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Lower Intermediate 2 Lessons 1-25

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Introduction

This is Innovative Language Learning.

Go to InnovativeLanguage.com/audiobooks to get the lesson notes for this course and sign up for your FREE lifetime account.

The course consists of lessons centered on a practical, real-life conversation.

In each lesson, first, we'll introduce the background of the conversation.

Then, you'll hear the conversation two times:

One time at natural native speed and one time with the English translation.

After the conversation, you'll learn carefully selected vocabulary and key grammar concepts.

Next, you'll hear the conversation 1 time at natural native speed at the end of the lesson.

Finally, practice what you have learned with the review track. In the review track, a native speaker will say a word or phrase from the dialogue, wait three seconds, and then give you the English translation. Say the word aloud during the pause. Halfway through the review track, the order will be reversed. The English translation will be provided first, followed by a three-second pause, and then the word or phrase from the dialogue. Repeat the words and phrases you hear in the review track aloud to practice pronunciation and reinforce what you have learned.

Before starting the lessons, go to InnovativeLanguage.com/audiobooks to get the lesson notes for this course and sign up for your FREE lifetime account.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Italian Comparisons: He’s in Less Trouble Than I Am?

Informal Italian 2 Informal English 2 1 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 4 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Informal Italian

Manuel Ora prendiamo un po’ di carne. Giulia OK. Cosa ti piace? Manuel Mi piace il maiale. Cosa ne dici di queste fette? Giulia No, prendi queste, sono meno grasse. Manuel Ora vorrei del pollo. Questo com’è? Giulia Questo petto di pollo mi sembra meno fresco di quello. Manuel Allora prendo quello. Giulia Bravo. Manuel Tutto merito della mia insegnante. Giulia Grazie.

Informal English

Manuel Now, let’s get some meat. Giulia Okay, what do you like? Manuel I like pork. What do you think about these slices? Giulia No, take these. They have less fat. Manuel Now, I’d like some chicken. How’s this? Giulia This chicken breast looks less fresh than that one. Manuel Then I’ll get that one. 2 Giulia Good. Manuel It’s all thanks to my teacher. Giulia Thank you.

Vocabulary Italian English Class carne meat, flesh noun maiale pig, pork noun fetta slice, cut, piece noun pollo chicken noun petto chest, breast, bosom noun

insegnante teacher noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

I vegetariani non mangiano la carne. "Vegetarians don’t eat meat." I maiali sono animali intelligenti. "Pigs are intelligent animals." Mangio una fetta di torta. I eat a slice of cake. Mi piace il pollo fritto. "I like fried chicken." Compro dei petti di pollo. "I buy some chicken breasts." La mia insegnante è giovane. My teacher is young.

Grammar Points

Comparative of Minority Questo petto di pollo mi sembra meno fresco di quello. "This chicken breast looks less fresh than that one."

Similar to the comparativo di maggioranza, we attain the comparativo di minoranza (comparative of minority) by inserting the adverb meno before the adjective(s) or adverb(s), and the preposition di or che right after it (them). 3 For example:

1. La tua bicicletta è meno costosa della (i.e., di + la) mia. "Your bicycle is less expensive than mine." 2. Le strade moderne sono meno sicure di quelle antiche. "Modern roads are less safe than the old ones." 3. Lucia e Camilla sono meno gentili e disponibili di Maria e Antonietta. "Lucia and Camilla are less kind and helpful than Maria and Antonietta."

Learning Tip:

Although we could theoretically use the comparativo di minoranza when comparing adverbs, it sounds

a bit odd. Italians tend to use the comparativo di maggioranza instead, switching the two terms of comparison.

For instance:

1. Carlo parla meno velocemente di me. "Carlo speaks less fast than me." That means: Io parlo più velocemente di Carlo. "I speak faster than Carlo."

Che vs. Di

The rules regarding the usage of che instead of di (explained in previous lessons), fully apply to the comparativo di minoranza.

For example:

1. Sono meno legato al lavoro che alla famiglia. (literally) "I am less fond of work than family." Note: The second term of comparison is a noun preceded by a preposition. 2. Penso che sia meno utile spendere che risparmiare. 4 "I think that spending is less useful than saving." Note: Comparison of two verbs 3. Tu reagisci più lentamente che correttamente. (literally) "You react more slowly than correctly." Note: Comparison of two adverbs

Cultural Insight

Roman Legions

The introduction of war engines was not the only symbol of the change brought by the Romans into Western world warfare. In fact, more flexible units (cohorts) forming the Roman legion substituted the

solid and unshakable Greek phalanx (ideal for fighting in wide, open spaces, but very limited and almost useless in narrower, hilly terrains). Instead of having a single, massive, but hardly maneuverable unit, the legions were made of many small units of troops, which could deploy on different positions.

Until the second century B.C., Roman legions were made of Roman citizens that fought for their country. They were recruited only during wartimes and normally didn't have any formal military training. After Gaius Marius' military reorganization, the professional soldier substituted the image of warrior-citizen. Roman legions became standing, permanent armies able to train their soldiers and to develop efficient fighting techniques.

This radical change brought two contrasting consequences. On one hand, it provided the Roman Republic with specialized armies, thus getting rid of unreliable "part-time" soldiers. These armies roamed freely around the known world, achieving outstanding successes. On the other hand, it created a military structure in which legions' commanders, the duces, held the real power and not the Roman Senate. This situation eventually led to the civil wars that first weakened, and ultimately destroyed, the Republican political organization of Rome.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Italian Comparisons of Equality: As Easy As This!

Informal Italian 2 Informal English 2 2 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 9 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Informal Italian

Giulia In Argentina, la carne è buona? Manuel La carne argentina è tanto buona quanto la carne italiana. Giulia Davvero? Manuel Sì. Giulia E la frutta argentina com’è? Manuel Le pesche argentine sono così succose come le pesche italiane. Giulia Allora sono proprio buone. Manuel Ora cerchiamo la verdura. Giulia OK.

Informal English

Manuel Is meat good in Argentina? Giulia Argentinean meat is as good as Italian meat. Manuel Really? Giulia Yes. Manuel And how’re Argentinean fruits? Giulia Argentinean peaches are as juicy as Italian ones. Manuel Then they are really good. Giulia Now let’s look for vegetables. 2 Manuel OK.

Vocabulary Italian English Class tanto…quanto as…as prepositions frutta fruit noun così…come as…as prepositions succoso juicy adjective ora now adverb verdura vegetable, vegetables noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Sono tanto paziente quanto tranquillo. I’m as patient as calm. Al supermercato si può trovare frutta da tutto il "At the supermarket you can find fruit from all mondo. over the world." La filosofia è così importante come la storia. Philosophy is as important as history. Quest’arancia è così succosa. This orange is so juicy. Ora torniamo a casa. "Now let’s go back home." Non mi piace la verdura. "I don’t like vegetables."

Grammar Points

Comparisons of Equality La carne argentina è tanto buona quanto la carne italiana. "Argentinean meat is as good as Italian meat."

We attain the comparativo di uguaglianza (comparative of equality) by inserting tanto/così before the adjective(s) or adverb(s) and quanto/come right after it (them).

When the objects of comparison (not the terms of comparison) are adjectives or adverbs, we can employ either tanto...quanto or così...come (in this circumstance, we consider them adverbs and never 3 change their form). We can never use tanto...come or così...quanto. For example:

1. Le macchine rosse sono tanto veloci quanto quelle verdi. "Red cars are as fast as the green ones." 2. Io sono tanto alto quanto te. "I am as tall as you are." 3. La tua felicità è così importante come la mia. "Your happiness is as important as mine."

Learning Tip

We use the couple, così...come, less frequently than tanto...quanto, and it sounds a bit old-fashioned. Italians almost always prefer to employ tanto...quanto rather than così...come. When the objects of

comparison are verbs, we can only use tanto...quanto.

For example:

1. Ho mangiato tanto quanto Paolo. "I ate as much as Paolo." 2. Suonare uno strumento è tanto bello quanto scrivere poesie. "Playing an instrument is as nice as writing poems." 3. Mi piace tanto studiare la storia quanto leggere la letteratura. "I like studying history as much as reading literature."

Learning Tip

Note that tanto and così may normally be implied. We need of course to keep quanto or come.

For instance:

1. Serena è (tanto) piacevole quanto intelligente. "Serena is as pleasant as (she is) intelligent."

4 Cultural Insight

Uomini di ferro su navi di legno hanno sconfitto uomini di legno su navi di ferro. "Iron men on wooden ships defeated wooden men on iron ships." Attributed to the admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff

The battaglia di Lissa ("battle of Lissa") was the last battle fought by the Venetian Navy. The Italian flotilla confronted the Austrian fleet near the island of Lissa on July 20, 1866. Men coming from former Venetian territories and trained at traditional Venetian military academies made up the Austrian naval forces. All officers had studied at the famous Scuola del Collegio Navale di Venezia, the oldest and most important naval academy of the Republic of Venice. Thus, the last battle the Venetian navy fought was against Italian invaders.

After the rout of Custoza (a small, beautiful city near Verona), the Italian general headquarter was determined to take revenge on the Austrian army in the Mediterranean Sea. The Admiral Persano led the Italian fleet, which consisted of thirty-three various kinds of powerful, modern battleships. The admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff led the Austrian fleet, which on the other hand counted only twenty-seven old ships, most of which were made of wood. In spite of the numerical and technological inferiority, the Austrian forces managed to achieve a crushing victory over the Italian fleet. Some historians say that the fact that the so-called Italian army was made up of soldiers that couldn't understand each other since they spoke different languages (dialects), while the Austrian crews all spoke the same language (the Venetian dialect) also influenced this outcome.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Comparing Nouns: As Many Italian Girls As Boys?

Informal Italian 2 Informal English 2 3 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 3 14 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Informal Italian

Manuel Quale verdura consigli? Giulia Prendi un po’ di lattuga, rucola e qualche carota. Manuel OK. Giulia In argentina ci sono molti anziani come in Italia? Manuel No. Ci sono tanti giovani quanti anziani. Giulia Qual’è l’età media. Manuel Circa 29 anni. Giulia Allora è un paese giovane. Manuel Sì, ci sono molti bambini. Giulia Che bello!

Informal English

Manuel What vegetables do you suggest? Giulia Get some lettuce, arugula, and some carrots. Manuel Okay. Giulia Are there many elderly people in Argentina, as in Italy? Manuel No, there are as many young as elderly people. Giulia What is the average age? Manuel About twenty-nine years. 2 Giulia Then it’s a young country. Manuel Yes, there are many children. Giulia How nice!

Vocabulary Italian English Class lattuga lettuce noun rucola rocket, arugula (plant) noun carota carrot noun anziano elderly person noun età age, period, epoch noun

bambino child, baby, kid noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Vorrei una lattuga e due carote. I’d like one lettuce and two carrots. Mi piace l’insalata di rucola. I like rocket salad. I cavalli adorano le carote. Horses adore carrots. Il centro per gli anziani è aperto ogni giorno. The center for the elderly is open every day. Non dimostri la tua età. "You don’t look your age." Che bel bambino. "What a nice baby."

Grammar Points

Comparing Nouns In argentina ci sono molti anziani come in Italia? "Are there many elderly people in Argentina, as in Italy?"

When the objects of comparison are nouns, tanto and quanto become standard adjectives. Therefore, we need to conjugate them according to the nouns they are attached to (not to the terms of comparison). 3 For instance:

1. Gli studenti hanno tante penne quanti quaderni degli esercizi. "The students have as many pens as exercise books." 2. Claudia conosce tante ragazze quanti ragazzi. "Claudia knows as many girls as guys." 3. Ho tante camicie quante giacche di pelle. "I have as many shirts as leather jackets."

Note that in this case tanto is always stated.

Cultural Insight

Non ut edam vivo sed ut vivam edo. (Quintiliano) I don't live for eating, but I eat for living. (Quinitilianus)

We have little information about the ancient Romans' eating habits. However, according to the few reliable documents that managed to survive the fall of the Empire, we know that Romans didn't eat any proper meal during the daytime. Dinner usually started around 3:00 P.M., and they considered it the only real meal of the day. Wealthy patricians organized banquets, inviting their peers as well as commoners. The middle and lower classes didn't have a kitchen in their homes and usually dined at taverns, a place where richer people never went. Taverns served wine mixed with boiling water, sausage with garlic, fried or boiled peas, and flat bread. Taverns were the only place where the Roman plebs and slaves could get hot food.

The most important ingredients of the Roman cuisine were roots, onions, cabbages, lettuce, minced leeks, broad beans, lupines, sesame, and cereals. They dressed their food with various spices, though salt and pepper were difficult to find and therefore only used by rich patricians. In particular, Romans loved sauces. The most popular sauce was a special kind of "dressing" called garrum, consisting in fermented fish entrails. Generally speaking, Romans preferred cooked food over raw food, consuming a lot of fish in brine.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 If We Have Time, We Can Go Shopping in Milan!

Informal Italian 2 Informal English 2 4 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 18 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Informal Italian

Manuel Per finire prenderei del gelato. Giulia Mi dispiace, ma credo che io debba andare ora. Manuel Sono già le undici? Giulia Sì. Mi dispiace. Manuel Non ti preoccupare, penso che tu mi abbia aiutato molto oggi. Giulia È stato divertente! Manuel Sì molto divertente! Grazie! Giulia Ciao! Manuel Ciao!

Informal English

Manuel Lastly, I’d get some ice cream. Giulia I’m sorry, but I think I have to leave now. Manuel It’s already eleven? Giulia Yes, I’m sorry. Manuel Don’t worry; I think you’ve helped me a lot today. Giulia It was fun! Manuel Yes, a lot of fun! Thanks! Giulia Bye! 2 Manuel Bye!

Vocabulary Italian English Class gelato ice cream noun credere to believe, think, consider verb dovere to have to/must verb undici eleven cardinal number aiutare to help, aid, assist verb divertente funny, fun, amusing adjective

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Il gelato Italiano è il più buono! “Italian gelato is the best!” Credo tu abbia ragione. “I believe you are right.” Devo proprio andare, scusami. “I really have to go. Sorry.” Devi mangiare la nutella. "You have to eat Nutella." Devi fare i compiti. "You must do your homework." Dovresti lavorare. "You should work." Dobbiamo parcheggiare qui. "We have to park here." Sono già le undici? “It’s already eleven?” Grazie per l’aiuto. “Thanks for the help.” Puoi aiutarmi, non trovo più il mio gatto. "Can you help me, I can't find my cat anymore." Ti posso aiutare? "Can I help you?" Lo spettacolo è stato molto divertente. “The show was very amusing.” È divertente giocare a calcio. "It’s fun to play soccer." Il film che abbiamo visto ieri sera è stato davvero "The movie we saw last night was really funny." divertente.

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson is the Italian Present Subjunctive Mood Mi dispiace, ma credo che io debba andare ora. 3 "I'm sorry, but I think I have to leave now."

The Italian subjunctive mood comprises four different tenses: presente ("present"), passato ("perfect"), imperfetto ("imperfect"), and trapassato ("pluperfect"). In order to differentiate the tenses from those that bear the same names in the indicative mood, the word congiuntivo ("subjunctive") always precedes them, thus stating the mood they belong to.

The choice of the appropriate subjunctive tense to employ depends on the tense agreement rules provided below. Please note that there are only two possible combinations: contemporaneity between the main and secondary clause and anteriority of the action in the secondary clause as compared to the one in the main clause. We express the posteriority of the action in the secondary clause as compared to the main clause in Italian using either the futuro semplice ("simple future") when the verb of the main clause is conjugated in the presente indicativo, or the condizionale passato ("past conditional") when the verb of the main clause is conjugated in any past tense.

We use the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive") when the verb of the main clause is conjugated in the presente indicativo ("present indicative") tense and the action of the secondary clause takes place simultaneously, as we shall see in the first, second, and fourth samples.

For example:

1. Credo che io debba andare ora. "I think I have to leave now." 2. Sebbene lei sia giovane, ha molta esperienza. "Even though she is young, she is very experienced." 3. Nonostante abbiate molto tempo, non riuscite a completare il lavoro. "Even though you have plenty of time, you can't finish the job."

The following reference tables provide you with the present subjunctive conjugation of essere ("to be") and avere ("to have").

Congiuntivo presente

essere ("to be") Congiuntivo Presente "Present Subjunctive" Che io sia "I am" 4 Che tu sia "You are" Che lui / lei sia "He/she/it is" Che noi siamo "We are" Che voi siate "You are" Che loro siano "They are"

avere ("to have") Congiuntivo Presente "Present Subjunctive" Che io abbia "I have" Che tu abbia "You have" Che lui / lei abbia "He/she/it has" Che noi abbiamo "We have"

Che voi abbiate "You have" Che loro abbiano "They have"

Cultural Insight

Porta Latina

Porta Latina (Latina Gate) is one of the most beautiful and best preserved gates of the Mura Aureliane (Aurelian walls). A legend says that the god Kronos found shelter at this gate when he was fleeing from his son Zeus through the countryside of Rome. The inhabitants of Rome assert to hear noises while passing through the gate. This puzzling common Roman belief holds that one can still hear the "noises of plague."

Due to this century-old legend, they officially sealed the gate twice due to sanitary precautions in 1576 and 1656. An alternative interpretation of these historical facts says that the gate followed in the decline of the Via Latina, disregarded by travelers and citizens after the creation of Via Appia Nuova. Regardless of truth of facts, the gate had been sealed until the end of the nineteenth century, except short periods when it was open to allow a more direct access to the chiesa di S. Giovanni. The door 5 remained closed when the Italian/Saubadian army invaded and conquered the Vatican state. In fact, it was sealed so well that the Italian troops could not break through, which forced them to find an alternative route to get inside Rome.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 I Hope This Helps You Study Your Italian!

Informal Italian 2 Informal English 2 5 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 23 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Informal Italian

Mario Pronto? Giulia Ciao. Parto ora dal supermercato. Passo a prenderti tra quindici minuti. Mario Non correre, oggi non devo aprire io il locale. Giulia Chi lo apre? Mario Penso che lo apra Beppe. Giulia E la tua moto? Mario Spero che la aggiustino per venerdì.

Informal English

Mario Hello? Giulia Hey. I’m leaving now from the supermarket. I’ll come and get you in fifteen minutes. Mario Don’t rush. Today, it’s not me that has to open the bar. Giulia Who’s opening it? Mario I think Beppe is opening it. Giulia And your motorcycle? Mario I hope they’ll fix it by Friday. 2 Vocabulary Italian English Class locale bar, café, nightclub, restaurant noun tuo your, yours possessive adjective, pronoun moto (motocicletta) motorcycle noun sperare to hope verb aggiustare to mend, fix, settle, repair verb venerdì Friday noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Hanno aperto un nuovo locale in via Roma. “They opened a new club in via Roma.” Come sta tua nonna. “How is your grandma doing?” Qual’è il tuo nome? "What is your name?" Cosa fa tuo padre? "What does your father do?" Il merito è tuo. "The credit is yours." Luca ha comprato una moto nuova. “Luca bought a new motorcycle.” Speriamo che la crisi economica finisca presto. “Let’s hope that the economic crisis finishes soon.” Spero che domani non piova. “I hope it won’t rain tomorrow.” Spero che Luisa arrivi in tempo. "Do you like white mice?" Devo aggiustare la macchina. “I have to fix the car.” Venerdì sera andiamo in discoteca? “Let’s go to the disco Friday night.”

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson is Conjugating the Italian Present Subjunctive Spero che la aggiustino per venerdì. "I hope they'll fix it by Friday."

Today, we are going to look at the present subjunctive conjugation of the three conjugations of regular verbs. 3 First Conjugation

arrivare ("to arrive") Congiuntivo Presente "Present Subjunctive" Che io arriv-i "I arrive" Che tu arriv-i "You arrive" Che lui / lei arriv-i "He/she/it arrives" Che noi arriv-iamo "We arrive" Che voi arriv-iate "You arrive" Che loro arriv-ino "They arrive"

Second Conjugation

scendere ("to go/get down") Congiuntivo Presente Present Subjunctive Che io scend-a "I go down" Che tu scend-a "You go down" Che lui/lei scend-a "He/she/it goes down" Che noi scend-iamo "We go down" Che voi scend-iate "You go down" Che loro scend-ano "They go down"

Third Conjugation

aprire ("to open") Congiuntivo Presente Present Subjunctive Che io apr-a "I open" Che tu apr-a "You open" Che lui/lei apr-a "He/she/it opens" Che noi apr-iamo "We open" 4 Che voi apr-iate "You open" Che loro apr-ano "They open"

The notes regarding the simple present tense formation fully apply to the congiuntivo presente. If you don't feel confident about the formation or simply wish to review it, please check the Newbie level or the Grammar Bank.

Cultural Insight

The Horse of Leonardo

The cavallo di Leonardo ("Horse of Leonardo") is a monument planned by Leonardo da Vinci that has a rather unique history. After many vicissitudes, the artist was only able to construct a hard-paper model that was unfortunately lost during a war between Milan and France.

Ludovico Sforza, named Ludovico il Moro (Ludwig the Moor), gave Leonardo the task of the world's largest sculpture to celebrate his father, Francesco Sforza, the founder of his household peerage. Leonardo immersed himself into the project, deeply studying different breeds of horses. He drew a picture of the "perfect" horse, taking individual parts from different breeds and joining them together. Moreover, Leonardo inserted particulars taken from similar sculptures made by those whom he admired as great artists of the past, such as Verrocchio and Donatello.

The history the Horse of Leonardo did not end there. In 1977, an American pilot named Charles Dent saw Leonardo's drawings and decided to reproduce the artist's heftiest sculpture. Dent died before achieving his dream, which was taken over by Frederik Meijer. He was the owner of a supermarket chain in Minnesota. He founded two reproductions. The first was installed in Milan in September 1999 and the second was built at Meijer Gardens, a nice Michigan garden containing his personal art collection.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 I Think You Must Have Spoken Italian in the Past!

Informal Italian 2 Informal English 2 6 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 28 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Informal Italian

Giulia Eccomi, andiamo? Mario Prendo la sacca e sono pronto. Giulia La mamma dov’è? Mario Credo che sia uscita a fare la spesa. Giulia Allora la chiamo stasera. Mario Manuel è ancora al supermercato? Giulia A quest’ora penso che abbia finito.

Informal English

Giulia Here I am. Shall we go? Mario Let me get my bag and I’m ready. Giulia Where’s mom? Mario I think she went out to buy groceries. Giulia Then I’ll call her this evening. Mario Is Manuel still at the supermarket? Giulia I think he’s finished by now.

2 Vocabulary Italian English Class sacca bag, pack, backpack, rucksack noun pronto ready, prepared, fit adjective mamma mom, mother noun fare la spesa to get groceries verbal expression chiamare to call, to phone verb sera evening noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

In Italia molte persone usano sacche dell'Invicta. “In Italy many people use Invicta backpacks.” Il sugo è pronto. “The sauce is ready.” La festa della mamma è l’otto maggio. “Mother's Day is on the eighth of May.” La tua mamma è giovane! "Your mom is young!" Vado a fare la spesa, a dopo. “I’m off to buy some groceries; see you later.” Non ho fatto la spesa. "I didn’t get groceries." Ti chiamo domani sera. “I’ll call you tomorrow evening.” Chiama la polizia! "Call the police!" Venerdì sera c’è un concerto in piazza Colombo. “Friday evening there is a concert in Columbus square.” La sera di solito guardo un film. In the evening I usually watch a movie.

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson is the Italian Past Subjunctive Credo che sia uscita a fare la spesa. "I think she went out to buy groceries."

We use the congiuntivo passato ("perfect subjunctive") when the verb of the main clause is conjugated in the presente indicativo ("present indicative") tense and the action of the secondary clause took place before it.

3 For Example:

1. Credo che Maria si sia sposata. "I think Maria got married." 2. Penso che lei sia già partita per Roma. "I think she already left for Rome." 3. Sono contento che lei abbia trovato l'uomo giusto. "I'm glad she found the right man."

The syntax of the past subjunctive is:

present subjunctive of the auxiliary verb (either essere or avere) + past participle of the main verb.

The following tables provide you with the past subjunctive conjugation of essere ("to be"), avere ("to

have"), and the three conjugations regular verbs.

Congiuntivo passato

essere ("to be") Congiuntivo Passato "Past Subjunctive" Che io sia stato "I was" Che tu sia stato "You were" Che lui / lei sia stato(a) "He/she/it was" Che noi siamo stati "We were" Che voi siate stati "You were" Che loro siano stati "They were"

avere ("to have") Congiuntivo Passato Past Subjunctive Che io abbia avuto "I had" Che tu abbia avuto "You had" Che lui/lei abbia avuto "He/she/it had" Che noi abbiamo avuto "We had" 4 Che voi abbiate avuto "You had" Che loro abbiano avuto "They had"

First, Second, Third Conjugation

auxiliary: essere ("to be") partire ("to leave") Congiuntivo Passato "Past Subjunctive" Che io sia partito "I left" Che tu sia partito "You left" Che lui / lei sia partito(a) "He/she/it left" Che noi siamo partiti "We left" Che voi siate partiti "You left" Che loro siano partiti "They left"

auxiliary: avere ("to have") vendere ("to sell") Congiuntivo Passato "Past Subjunctive" Che io abbia venduto "I sold" Che tu abbia venduto "You sold" Che lui / lei abbia venduto "He/she/it sold" Che noi abbiamo venduto "We sold" Che voi abbiate venduto "You sold" Che loro abbiano venduto "They sold"

Cultural Insight

The Altar of Peace

The Ara Pacis (literally, Altar of Peace) is probably the most famous existing monument of the Augustan period in Rome. The monument is located in the Campio Marzio area, where ancient Romans used to celebrate their victories and the leaders that led to them. The idea of "peace" to the 5 ancient Romans was very different from the one we have. Romans thought of "peace" as prosperity and total control over the conquered territories. The emperor Augustus had the altar built in 13 B.C.

The altar was originally erected to commemorate Augustus's victory over rebellious tribes in Spain and southern France. The official unveiling took place in 9 B.C., on the birthday of Livia, the wife of the emperor.

The surface of the altar is engraved with scenes taken from Roman mythology, depicting Aeneas and the Roman ancestors during their deeds against the Latini (the people that inhabited the area before the coming of the Trojan refugees). Roman gods, goddesses, and minor deities abound as a sign of the heavenly protection and help accorded to the first Roman emperor.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 I Thought You Were Buying Shoes in Italy Today!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 7 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 6 33 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Beppe Ciao Mario, hai le chiavi? Mario Ciao. Certo. Scusami del ritardo, pensavo aprissi tu. Beppe Pensavo anch’io di aprire, ma ho dimenticato a casa le chiavi. Mario Sei il solito smemorato. Ora apro. Beppe Ciao Giulia, come stai? Giulia Bene, e tu? Beppe Non c’è male. Giulia Avrete molti clienti oggi? Beppe Speriamo, ultimamente il lavoro è diminuito.

English

Beppe Hi, Mario. Do you have the keys? Mario Hi. Sure. Sorry for the delay, I thought you were going to open. Beppe I also thought I’d open, but I forgot the keys at home. Mario You’re the usual absentminded person. Let me open. Beppe Hi, Giulia. How are you? Giulia Fine, and you? Beppe Not bad. Giulia Will you have many customers today? 2 Beppe I hope so. Lately, business has decreased.

Vocabulary Italian English Class ritardo delay, lateness noun solito usual, common noun smemorato forgetful, absentminded adjective cliente customer, client, guest noun ultimamente lately, of late adverb diminuire to diminish, decrease, reduce, verb lower

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Il treno subirà un ritardo di quaranta minuti. "The train will be delayed forty minutes." Prendo il solito. “I’ll take the usual.” Ultimamente sono sempre smemorato. “Lately, I am always absentminded.” Il cliente ha sempre ragione. "The customer is always right." Ultimamente che film hai visto? "Lately, what movies have you seen?" Nel 2008 gli affari sono diminuiti sensibilmente. “In 2008, business has sensibly diminished.”

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson is the Italian Imperfect Subjunctive Scusami del ritardo, pensavo aprissi tu. "Sorry for the delay, I thought you were going to open."

We use the congiuntivo imperfetto ("imperfect subjunctive") when the verb of the main clause is conjugated in any past indicative tense and the action of the secondary clause takes place simultaneously.

For instance:

1. Pensavo che voi arrivaste in tempo. "I thought you arrived on time." 2. Malgrado fosse tardi, sono andati a ballare. "Even though it was late, they went dancing." 3. Sebbene non ne avessi voglia, ho bevuto un caffè. "Although I didn't feel like doing it, I drank coffee."

The following reference boards provide you with the imperfect subjunctive conjugation of the three conjugations of regular verbs, essere ("to be"), and avere ("to have").

essere ("to be")

Congiuntivo Imperfetto "Imperfect Subjunctive" Che io fossi "I was" Che tu fossi "You were" Che lui/lei fosse "He/she/it was" Che noi fossimo "We were" Che voi foste "You were" Che loro fossero "They were"

avere ("to have")

Congiuntivo Imperfetto "Imperfect Subjunctive" Che io avessi "I had" Che tu avessi "You had" 4 Che lui/lei avesse "He/she/it had" Che noi avessimo "We had" Che voi aveste "You had" Che loro avessero "They had"

First Conjugation: comprare ("to buy")

Congiuntivo Imperfetto "Imperfect Subjunctive" Che io compr-assi "I bought" Che tu compr-assi "You bought"

Che lui/lei compr-asse "He/she/it bought" Che noi compr-assimo "We bought" Che voi compr-aste "You bought" Che loro compr-assero "They bought"

Second Conjugation: credere ("to believe, maintain")

Congiuntivo Imperfetto "Imperfect Subjunctive" Che io cred-essi "I believed" Che tu cred-essi "You believed" Che lui/lei cred-esse "He/she/it believed" Che noi cred-essimo "We believed" Che voi cred-este "You believed" Che loro cred-essero "They believed"

Third Conjugation dormire ("to sleep") 5

Congiuntivo Imperfetto "Imperfect Subjunctive" Che io dorm-issi "I slept" Che tu dorm-issi "You slept" Che lui/lei dorm-isse "He/she/it slept" Che noi dorm-issimo "We slept" Che voi dorm-iste "You slept" Che loro dorm-issero "They slept"

Cultural Insight

Holy Heart of Suffrage Church

The chiesa del sacro cuore del suffragio (Holy Heart of Suffrage Church) is located in lungotevere Prati. An architect (who probably got his inspiration from the Duomo of Milan) built it in Gothic style in 1890. Officially opened in 1917, the church was dedicated to the souls in Purgatory. The reason for this particular devotion comes from a rather remarkable story.

This church contains a museum that doesn't have an equal anywhere else in the world. The chapel of the church caught on fire on September 15, 1897. When they put the fire out, a priest noted that a clearly visible shape of a head was imprinted on one of its columns, a head that is still visible nowadays. A French priest, Victor Jouset, maintained the owner of the head was a soul atoning for his sins in Purgatory. From then on, he started extensive field research on the topic and ended up collecting many objects (cloths, cloaks, books, sheets, and many others) on which bear the shape of human body parts. He traveled throughout Europe to find evidence of these eccentricities, collecting objects as well as many incredible stories about them. Nowadays, the little museum displays this curious collection of objects and stories to the visitors that stop by. 6

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 I Didn’t Know You Had Brought Other Girls in Italy!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 8 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 6 39 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Mario Questa sera chiami mamma? Giulia Sì, anche se speravo fosse rimasta a casa, volevo vederla. Mario Anche lei vorrebbe vederti più spesso. Giulia Se avessi saputo che usciva, sarei partita prima dal supermercato. Mario Non ti preoccupare, se la chiami sarà contenta. Giulia Ti lascio al tuo lavoro. Mario Ciao.

English

Mario Are you going to call Mother this evening? Giulia Yes. Even though I hoped she had stayed at home, I wanted to see her. Mario She’d also like to see you more often. Giulia If I had known she was going out, I would have left the supermarket earlier. Mario Don’t worry; if you call her, she’ll be happy. Giulia I’ll leave you to your work. Mario Bye. 2 Vocabulary Italian English Class sperare to hope verb rimanere to stay, remain verb prima earlier adverb preoccuparsi to worry verb contento happy, content adjective lavoro work, job noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Speriamo che la crisi economica finisca presto. “Let’s hope that the economic crisis finishes soon.” Spero che domani non piova. “I hope it won’t rain tomorrow.” Spero che Luisa arrivi in tempo. "Do you like white mice?" Rimani per cena? “Are you staying for dinner?” Finiamo prima sta sera. “Let’s finish earlier tonight.” Se avessi iniziato prima, avrei già finito. "Had I started earlier, I’d be already done." Non ti preoccupare! "Don't worry!" Se ti preoccupi non dormi bene. "If you worry, you won’t sleep well." Non ti preoccupare, non facciamo tardi. "Don't worry, we won't be late." Se vieni a casa la nonna sarà contenta. “If you come home, grandmother will be happy.” Sono contento. "I’m happy." Paolo è contento. "Paolo is happy." Sto cercando un nuovo lavoro. “I’m looking for a new job.” Oggi vado a lavoro in macchina. "Today, I am going to work by car." L'Italia è una Repubblica democratica, fondata sul "Italy is a democratic Republic based on work." lavoro. Che lavoro fa Luigi? "What does Luigi do?" / "What job does Luigi do?"

Grammar Points

3 The Focus of This Lesson is the Italian Pluperfect Subjunctive Se avessi saputo che usciva, sarei partita prima dal supermercato. "If I had known she was going out, I would have left the supermarket earlier."

We use the congiuntivo trapassato ("pluperfect subjunctive") when the verb of the main clause is conjugated in any past indicative tense and the action of the secondary clause has taken place before it.

For example:

Sebbene non avessi studiato, passai l'esame. "Even though I hadn't studied, I passed the exam." - Speravo che Luisa avesse voluto venire con te. "I hoped Luisa had wanted to come with you." - Ero contenta che voi aveste ritrovato il vostro portafoglio. "I was happy you'd found your wallet."

The syntax of the pluperfect subjunctive is: imperfect subjunctive of the auxiliary verb (either essere or avere) + pluperfect participle of the main verb.

The following reference boards provide you with the pluperfect subjunctive conjugation of essere ("to be"), and avere ("to have"), and the three conjugations of regular verbs.

essere ("to be")

Congiuntivo Trapassato "Pluperfect Subjunctive" Che io fossi stato "I had been" Che tu fossi stato "You had been" Che lui/lei fosse stato/a "He/she/it had been" 4 Che noi fossimo stati "We had been" Che voi foste stati "You had been" Che loro fossero stati "They had been"

avere ("to have")

Congiuntivo Trapassato "Pluperfect Subjunctive" Che io avessi avuto "I had had" Che tu avessi avuto "You had had" Che lui/lei avesse avuto "He/she/it had had"

Che noi avessimo avuto "We had had" Che voi aveste avuto "You had had" Che loro avessero avuto "They had had"

First, Second, Third Conjugations Auxiliary: essere ("to be") stare ("to stay")

Congiuntivo Trapassato "Pluperfect Subjunctive" Che io fossi stato "I had stayed" Che tu fossi stato "You had stayed" Che lui/lei fosse stato/a "He/she/it had stayed" Che noi fossimo stati "We had stayed" Che voi foste stati "You had stayed" Che loro fossero stati "They had stayed"

5 Auxiliary: avere ("to have") amare ("to love")

Congiuntivo Trapassato "Pluperfect Subjunctive" Che io avessi amato "I had loved" Che tu avessi amato "You had loved" Che lui/lei avesse amato "He/she/it had loved" Che noi avessimo amato "We had loved" Che voi aveste amato "You had loved" Che loro avessero amato "They had loved"

Cultural Insight

The Roman Catacombs

Those who visit the catacombs of Rome may think that was where the ancient Romans built their subterranean cemeteries. This is in fact, only partially true.

They used the expression ad catacumbas during the imperial period in Rome to indicate an area where, according to a Christian legend, they kept the mortal remains of St. Paul and St. Sebastian. They later adopted the expression to indicate all subterranean Roman collective cemeteries. According to the Roman laws regarding burial, all corpses were to be burned and buried outside the city walls in order to prevent diseases and related problems. Since for Christians, death was not the final stage of a soul's life but only an intermediate step between normal life and the final resurrection with both body and 6 soul, they refused to have their dead burned. The small Christian society secretly built subterranean sepulchers, often incorporating into them pre-existing Etruscan catacombs and basements of long-gone villas and public buildings. Since this activity was illegal and relentlessly persecuted by the Roman authorities, they used to seal their catacombs and keep their location secret.

The full length of these catacombs was one and half kilometers, hosting more than a million mortal remains of late Christians.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Italian Subjunctive Mood – Wishing on a Star in Italian

Formal Italian 2 English 2 9 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 45 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Giulia Pronto? Manuel Ciao, ti disturbo? Giulia No, ma spero che tu non sia ancora al supermercato. Manuel Come hai fatto a indovinare? Giulia Sono telepatica! Cosa succede? Manuel Non riesco a capire il prezzo di un prodotto. Giulia Penso che tu debba chiedere ad una commessa. Manuel Hai ragione, ora provo. Grazie. Giulia Ciao.

English

Giulia Hello? Manuel Hello. Am I disturbing you? Giulia No, but I hope you're not still at the supermarket. Manuel How did you guess? Giulia I’m telepathic! What’s happening? Manuel I can’t understand the price of a product. Giulia I think you have to ask a shop assistant. Manuel You’re right; I’ll try now. Thanks. 2 Giulia Bye.

Vocabulary Italian English Class disturbare to disturb, upset, annoy, bother verb indovinare to guess, foretell verb telepatico telepathic adjective prezzo price, cost, rate, tariff noun prodotto product noun commesso shop clerk, shop assistant noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Si prega di non disturbare. "Please do not disturb." Indovina chi ho incontrato ieri. "Guess who I met yesterday." Vorrei essere telepatico. "I’d like to be telepathic." Il prezzo è un po’ alto. "The price is a little high." Il nostro prodotto migliore è l’olio extra vergine "Our best product is the extra virgin olive oil." d’oliva. Luca lavora come commesso alla Oviesse. "Luca works as shop assistant at Oviesse."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is on the Different Employments of the modo congiuntivo ("Subjunctive Mood"). No, ma spero che tu non sia ancora al supermercato. "No, but I hope you're not still at the supermarket."

Generally speaking, the principal function of the subjunctive mood is to indicate that the events expressed through the verb are not certain, objective, or relevant.

You should employ the subjunctive mood as follows: 3 1st - You should use it in a subordinate clause when the conjunction che ("that") introduces the secondary clause. Please note that we often omit the conjunction che in English, whereas we almost always state it in Italian.

For Example: Italian "English" Spero che tu sia pronto. "I hope (that) you are ready." Penso che tu abbia ragione. "I think (that) you are right." Sono felice che Lucia abbia risolto il suo "I'm glad (that) Lucia solved her problem." problema. Non ti credo, sebbene tu sostenga di poter provare "I don't believe you, even though you maintain you le tue parole. can prove what you say."

In the first sample sentence, the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive") illustrates a fact that is not

certain ("I hope...").

In the second sentence, the congiuntivo presente indicates that a fact is not objectively reported ("I think..."). Similarly, in the third sentence, the congiuntivo passato ("perfect subjunctive") conveys a real occurrence ("Lucia solved her problem"), but it is reported through the opinion ("I'm glad...") of the subject who related it.

In the fourth sentence, the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive") in the secondary clause conveys the irrelevance of the information ("...even though you maintain...").

Conjugation of the Verb dovere in the Congiuntivo presente

The verb dovere ("to have to," "must") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

dovere ("to have to," "must") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" Che io debba/deva Che tu debba/deva Che "I have to" "You have to" "He/she/it has lui/lei debba/deva Che noi dobbiamo Che to" "We have to" "You have to" "They voi dobbiate Che loro debbano/devano have to"

Cultural Insight

Rome's Hand-Eating Lie Detector

The bocca della verità (literally, "the mouth of truth") is an interesting and curious monument of Rome. It's a round-shaped marble slab displaying a bearded face that represents Neptune, the Roman god of water and the seas. Although its origins are uncertain, some scholars assume the slab was carved in the first century B.C., initially serving as a manhole. However, after the Roman Empire fell, the marble slab took an entirely different role.

It slowly became known as the detector of liars. People of every social class were asked to insert their right hand into the opening of the mouth and to loudly repeat their assertions. If their claims were true, nothing would happen. On the other hand, if they lied, the mouth would "eat" their hand. In fact, during the Middle Ages, the city authorities used to pay an executioner to hide behind the slab and chop off the hands of those who were identified as liars beforehand (mostly due to political scheming).

Today, lovers from all over the world visit the bocca della verità: they pay homage to this ancient Roman legend by "risking" their hands before their partners, saying ti amo ("I love you") in all the languages of the world.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Subjunctive Verbs Expressing Fear, Doubt, and Unreality: It's Not Easy Being Cheesy

Formal Italian 2 English 2 10 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 50 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Giulia Pronto? Pronto? Manuel? Manuel Ciao Giulia, ti disturbo ancora. Giulia Ah, ciao. Dimmi pure. Hai chiesto alla commessa? Manuel No, non riesco neanche a dire il nome del formaggio che mi hai fatto vedere ieri. Il gor, gorgo qualcosa. Giulia Gorgonzola! Manuel Gorgonzola, ecco. È buono? Giulia Va molto a gusti. Hai paura che non ti piaccia? Manuel A dire il vero, forse chiedo alla commessa. Giulia Manuel! Pronto? Ho l'impressione che tu non mi stia ascoltando. Manuel Ci sentiamo, ti chiamo dopo Giulia, ciao! Giulia Ciao. Ma (click)…ma, ha attaccato!

English

Giulia Hello? Hello? Manuel? Manuel Hi Giulia, I'm bothering you again. Giulia Ah, hi. Please tell me. Did you ask the clerk girl? Manuel No, I can hardly say the name of that cheese you showed me yesterday. Go- gorgo- something. 2 Giulia Gorgonzola! Manuel Gorgonzola, there it is. Is it good? Giulia It's a matter of taste. Are you afraid you will not like it? Manuel Actually, maybe I will ask the clerk. Giulia Manuel! Hello? I have the impression that you're not listening to me. Manuel Talk to you later, Giulia, bye! Giulia Bye. But (click)…Hey, he hung up!

Vocabulary Italian English Class disturbare to disturb, upset, annoy, bother verb ancora still, yet, again adverb

commessa shop clerk, shop assistant noun formaggio cheese noun gusto taste, flavor noun impressione impression, sensation, belief, noun hunch

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Si prega di non disturbare. "Please do not disturb." Ho ancora sonno! "I am still sleepy!" Sono una commessa. "I am a shop clerk." Mi piace mangiare il prosciutto con il formaggio. "I like to eat ham with cheese." È di cattivo gusto! "That's in bad taste!" Ho l'impressione di averti già incontrata. "I've the impression of having met you already."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is on the Different Employments of the modo congiuntivo ("Subjunctive Mood"). Manuel! Pronto? Ho l'impressione che tu non mi stia ascoltando. 3 "Manuel! Hello? I have the impression that you're not listening to me."

In this lesson, we continue our discussion of the subjunctive mood and bring you the second use. You can also employ the subjunctive mood as follows:

2nd: You should employ it in subordinate clauses when the verb of the main phrase expresses doubt, fear, or unreality.

For Example:

Italian "English" Doubt Ho l'impressione che tu non mi "I have the impression that you stia ascoltando. are not listening to me." Doubt Sembrava che tutti fossero "It seemed that everybody d'accordo. agreed." Fear Hai paura che non venga nessuno"Are you afraid nobody will pick a prenderti? you up?" Fear Temevo che Luisa avesse fatto un "I feared Luisa had had a bad car brutto incidente. accident." Unreality Allora fingiamo che non ci siano "Let's pretend that there are no guerre nel mondo. wars around the world, then." Unreality Se lo desideri, illuditi che non sia "If you wish so, then pretend that successo niente. nothing happened."

Conjugation

The verb potere ("to be able to," "can") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

4 potere ("to be able to," "can") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" Che io possa Che tu possa Che lui/lei "I am able to" "You are able to" "He/she/it possa Che noi possiamo Che voi possiate is able to" "We are able to" "You are able Che loro possano to" "They are able to"

Cultural Insight

What's Behind Italian (Magic) Door Number Three?

The porta magica ("magic door"), alternatively called porta alchemica ("alchemic door"), was the front door to a secret garden. This garden was part of the villa of the Marquis Massimiliano Palombara. Legend has it that this nobleman was an expert of alchemy, esotericism, and occultism. The door was built in 1655 and was later relocated into the walls surrounding Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where you can visit it today.

The legend says that the Marquis hosted a young man from Milan, Giuseppe Francesco Borri, who was expelled from the Jesuit College where he studied when his instructors noted that he was more interested in delving into esoteric matters rather than theological studies. The Marquis offered him a safe shelter where he could continue his research on how to turn lead into gold. The young alchemist suddenly disappeared when, as he himself assured, was about to find the magic formula, leaving behind a pile of scrolls with unknown symbols written on them. The symbols puzzled the wisest scholars of Rome, and nobody was able to figure out their meaning. The Marquis resolved to inscribe them on the door, hoping that one day someone would able to decipher them. The symbols are still waiting to be translated, thus contributing to the magical atmosphere of Rome.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Everything You Expect from Italian...and So Much More!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 11 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 55 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Giulia Pronto? Manuel? Ma cosa è successo? Manuel Ciao Giulia, scusa, era caduta la linea. Giulia Ah. Ma sono passati 20 minuti da quando è caduta, o sbaglio? Manuel Si, scusami. Giulia Uomini, tutti uguali! Pretendo che se cade la linea tu mi chiami subito dopo! Manuel Scusa Giulia. Giulia Senti, tutto ok con il formaggio? Manuel Si, grazie. Giulia Stasera volevamo andare al bowling con Marcella. Vuoi venire? Manuel Ah, il bowling! Si, vengo! Giulia Mi aspetto che tu venga a prendermi con la macchina per le otto, va bene? Manuel Ok, ok. Ci vediamo dopo allora. Giulia Ciao! Manuel Ciao!

English

Giulia Hello? Manuel? What happened? 2 Manuel Hi Giulia, sorry, I've been cut off. Giulia Ah. But it's been twenty minutes since that happened, right? Manuel Yes, sorry. Giulia Men, all the same! I expect that if you got cut off you would at least call me right away. Manuel Sorry, Giulia. Giulia Listen, is everything okay with the cheese? Manuel Yes, thanks. Giulia Tonight we want to go bowling with Marcella, want to come? Manuel Ah, bowling! Yes, I'm in! Giulia I expect you to come to take me with the car by eight o'clock, is that okay? Manuel Okay, okay. See you later then. Giulia Bye! Manuel Bye!

Vocabulary Italian English Class succedere to happen verb cadere to fall, drop, tumble verb uguale equal, the same, like, even adjective pretendere to expect verb dopo after, afterwards, later adverb allora so, then conjuction

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Che ti è successo? "What happened to you?" Non cadere! "Don't fall down!" Siamo tutti uguali. "We are all the same." Pretendi che tutti ti aspettino sempre? "Do you expect everybody to always wait for you?" Se vuoi ci possiamo vedere dopo cena. "If you want, we can see each other after dinner." Allora è deciso. "Then, it's settled." Allora? Che cosa ha detto? "So? What did he say?" 3 Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson is on the Different Employments of the modo congiuntivo ("Subjunctive Mood"). Uomini, tutti uguali! Pretendo che se cade la linea tu mi chiami subito dopo! "Men, all the same! I expect that if you got cut off you would at least call me right away."

We continue this lesson with the third use of the subjunctive mood. You can also employ the subjunctive mood as follows:

3rd: You can employ it in subordinate clauses when the verb of the main phrase expresses the will to do something or the expectation about what is expressed in the secondary clause.

For Example: Italian "English" Will Voglio che la mia opinione sia "I want to make my point clear!" chiara! Will Chiedete che partano subito. "You tell them to leave at once." Expectation Pretendo che mi vengano date "I expect to be given satisfactory spiegazioni convincenti! explanations!" Expectation Mi aspetto che il suo cane non "I expect that your dog doesn't abbai tutta la notte. bark all night long."

Cultural Insight

The Future of Comic Books: Futuro Anteriore Exhibition

Futuro Anteriore is a collective exhibition organized by Napoli Comicon, which is the international showroom of comics and animation, held in Castel Sant'Elmo every year in March. The exhibition made its debut in 2002 in Naples. That same year, L'Arena del Fumetto in Bologna and Romics in Rome also hosted the exhibition. In 2003, Futuro Anteriore finally arrived at the Festival 4 Internationale de la Bande Dessinée of Angoulême in France and also reached the Far East, exhibiting in Seul at Ilmin (the museum of modern art) for the Dong-A·LG International Festival of Comics, Cartoon, Character Design & Animation. The exhibition presents original avant-garde comic strips that break down the barriers of space and language.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Something is Out of the Ordinary in Italian

Formal Italian 2 English 2 12 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 59 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Manuel Ciao, potresti uscire? Sono arrivato. Giulia Va bene, telefono a Marcella ed esco. Manuel Ti aspetto. Giulia Marcella ha detto che ci aspetta direttamente lì. Manuela Strano che Marcella non voglia che la passiamo a prendere oggi. C'è sotto qualcosa? Giulia Credo che abbia trovato un nuovo ragazzo. Manuel Ah, ecco. L'hai già conosciuto? Giulia No. Lo vedo stasera per la prima volta. Mi ha detto Marcella che sarà una serata un pò insolita. Manuel Cosa intendi dire? Giulia Dice che il ragazzo è americano. Ed è campione di bowling. Manuel Ah! Cominciamo bene!

English

Manuel Hi, could you come out? I'm here. Giulia Okay, I'll give Marcella a call and I'll be out. Manuel I'll be waiting. (Giulia arrives at the car, enters, and closes the door) 2 Giulia Marcella said that she'll be waiting for us there. Manuela It's strange that Marcella doesn't want us to go pick her up today. There's something fishy, isn't there? Giulia I think she found a new boyfriend. Manuel Ah, there it is. Have you already met him? Giulia No. I'll see him tonight for the first time. Marcella told me that it will be an unusual night. Manuel What do you mean? Giulia She said that her new boyfriend is American. And he's a bowling champion. Manuel Oh! We're off to a fine start!

Vocabulary

Italian English Class sportello door, window, counter noun direttamente directly, straight adverb conoscere to know verb serata evening noun insolito unusual, unique adjective campione champion, prize-winning, champ noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Lo sportello dell'auto non si chiude bene. "The car door doesn't close well." Ci vediamo direttamente al cinema. "Let's meet directly at the cinema." Vai direttamente a casa dopo il film? "Are you going straight home after the movie?" Ieri sera ho conosciuto un attore molto "Yesterday evening, I met a very important actor." importante. Conosci il mio amico Mario? "Do you know my friend Mario?" È stata una serata indimenticabile. "It's been an unforgettable evening." Questo vino ha un sapore un po' insolito. "This wine has a rather unusual flavor." Luciano è il nuovo campione di ciclismo. "Luciano is the new cycling champion." 3 Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is on the Different Employments of the Modo congiuntivo ("Subjunctive Mood"). Strano che Marcella non voglia che la passiamo a prendere oggi. "It's strange that Marcella doesn't want us to go pick her up today."

We also employ the subjunctive mood as follows:

4th - We use it in the subordinate clause following impersonal expressions or verbs.

Impersonal expressions obey the following syntax:

Third person of the verb essere ("to be") + either adjective or noun

For Example: Italian "English" È impossibile che i tuoi amici si siano (literally) "It's impossible that your persi. friends got lost." È strano che Mario non sia ancora (literally) "It's strange that Mario arrivato. hasn't come yet." Era un peccato che voi non aveste "It was a pity you didn't bring your 4 portato gli sci. skis."

Impersonal verbs are verbs that do not grammatically refer to real subjects (i.e., real people), but express the opinion of the speaker from an impersonal viewpoint. Impersonal verbs are conjugated at the third singular person.

For Example: Italian "English" Basta che voi siate felici. "It suffices that you are happy." Bisognava impegnarsi di più per "You needed to commit yourself passare l'esame. more to pass the exam." Occorre che voi siate più cauti. "It is necessary that you are more cautious."

Cultural Insight

Italian Girl Power

Nowadays, women's complicity is discussed a lot...and not always understood by men. Women can spend ages speaking on the phone, talking about men. Why? A recent survey revealed that Italian women are not satisfied with their sex life because they do not find it really fulfilling. Of a sample of 1001 women between twenty-two and fifty-five years old, only 5.1 percent claim to be happy and satisfied.

What is the solution? But overall, what is the problem? In many cases, women assert that they have problems in openly communicating with their partners.

Maybe that's why they like spending hours talking to their girlfriends on the phone...

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Learn How to Compliment a Woman in Italian!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 13 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 4 64 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Manuel Perché ti guardi allo specchio di continuo? Giulia Beh, non sono molto convinta della mia nuova pettinatura. Il mio parrucchiere è così incompetente! Manuel Ma cosa dici? Penso che tu sei bella così! Giulia Forse volevi dire penso che tu sia bella così, non sai neanche parlare italiano! Poi che ne sai tu di acconciature da donna? Manuel Hai ragione, forse non so molto di pettinature, ma so ancora riconoscere bene una bella donna! Giulia Oh Manuel, grazie. Comunque mi preferivo prima, li ha tagliati troppo. Adesso però pensa a guidare che gli altri ci aspettano. Manuel Ok, ma non dobbiamo correre. Non siamo in ritardo.

English

Manuel Why do you continuously look at yourself in the mirror? Giulia Well, I'm not so convinced about my new hairstyle. My hairdresser is such an incompetent! Manuel What are you talking about? I think you are cute like the way you are! Giulia You probably mean I think you are beautiful the way you are, you can't even speak Italian! But then what do you know about women's 2 hairstyles? Manuel You're right, probably I don't know that much about hairstyles, but I can still recognize a beautiful woman well! Giulia Oh, Manuel, thank you. Anyway, I preferred myself before. He cut them too much. But now focus on driving. The others are waiting for us. Manuel Okay, but we don't need to run. We're not late.

Vocabulary Italian English Class specchio mirror noun convinto convinced, sure, confident, adjective persuaded

pettinatura hairstyle, coiffure, combing noun incompetente incompetent, unskilled, raw adjective acconciatura hairstyle, headdress, hairdo noun riconoscere to recognize, acknowledge, verb identify, see

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Lo specchio è appeso alla parete. "The mirror is hanging on the wall." Hai rotto lo specchio. "You broke the mirror." Sono convinto di quello che dico. "I am convinced of what I am saying." Questa nuova pettinatura ti sta bene. "This new hairstyle suits you." Il personale di questo ufficio è incompetente. "The staff of this office is incompetent." Ho deciso l'acconciatura per il mio matrimonio. "I have decided the hairstyle for my wedding." Ho riconosciuto dei miei vecchi amici alla festa. "I recognized some of my old friends at the party."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is on the Modo congiuntivo ("Subjunctive Mood") and Its Employment in Informal Speech. 3 Forse volevi dire penso che tu sia bella così, non sai neanche parlare italiano! "You probably mean I think you are beautiful the way you are, you can't even speak Italian!"

We already briefly mentioned the difference between formal and informal speech in the employment of the modo congiuntivo ("subjunctive mood"). As we saw in the dialogue, Giulia corrected Manuel when he said:

1. Penso che tu sei bella così. (literally) "I think you are beautiful the way you are." (meaning) "I think you are cute the way you are."

As far as meaning is concerned, both the literal and the proper translations mean the same thing. Since we cannot show the grammatical difference properly in English, which does possess the subjunctive mood although it is used rather differently, we decided to translate the adjective bella as "cute."

The main, and probably nowadays the most important, criterion in choosing between the indicative and subjunctive moods is the sociolinguistic context that we are speaking in. To put it simply, the sociolinguistic context is simply the combination of both the situation we are in as well as the person we are talking to.

Therefore, even though both "cute" and "beautiful" mean "attractive," the two words bear a slightly different degree of attractiveness. Moreover, the former is socially deemed to be less formal than the latter. This means that society unwittingly assigns to the word "cute" a lower degree of formality than its quasi-synonym "beautiful."

Italian expresses this precise difference through the employment of the subjunctive mood, in addition to the choice of synonyms. Giulia rephrases and corrects Manuel's statement, saying:

4 1. Penso che tu sia bella così. (literally and meaning) "I think you are beautiful the way you are."

Although we are dealing with an informal conversation between friends, Manuel's utterance regarded Giulia's attractiveness. Therefore, he felt the need to ennoble the level of the language employed. When praising ladies' physical qualities, it is always wise to choose a variety of language that mirrors their attractiveness. Had it been a conversation about Giulia's bellezza ("beauty") between two male friends, they both would have probably used the indicative mood.

Cultural Insight

The Decline of the Italian Subjunctive Mood

During the years, the Italian usage of the subjunctive mood has slowly decreased.

In spoken language, Italians substitute the present indicative for the subjunctive. This mainly happens between young people, but it's actually not so rare to listen to this kind of mistake even on national radio or TV broadcasts. This is due to the fact that in daily conversations, people tend to simplify the language. The lack of use of the subjunctive is also happening in other Romance languages, such as French and Spanish.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 The Best Part of Waking up Is Italian Coffee in Your Cup!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 14 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 69 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Mario Buongiorno signora Silvia! Non pensa che oggi sia una bella giornata? Prego, entri pure! Silvia Buongiorno! La rigrazio. Posso avere un caffè? Mario Ma certo, come glielo preparo? Espresso, americano, marocchino? Silvia Mmm sono indecisa, sembrano tutti deliziosi. Mario Non si preoccupi signora, qualunque scelta lei faccia, il nostro caffè è della migliore qualità! Silvia Me lo dia espresso doppio allora, che ho bisogno di svegliarmi. Mario Uè Rocco, buongiorno! Rocco (entra) Buon giorno Mario, dammi il solito, grazie. Mario Come va con il film? Sa signora Silvia, Rocco è un regista. Silvia Ah si? Rocco Si signora, ultimamente stiamo girando un film qui a Milano. Silvia Che bello! Posso venire a vedere il set ogni tanto? Rocco Ma certo, prego signora! Chiunque voglia venire sul set è il benvenuto, anche tu Mario!

English

Mario Good morning, Mrs. Silvia! Don't you think today is a lovely day? 2 Please, come in! Silvia Good morning! Thank you. Can I have a coffee? Mario Sure, how do you want it? Espresso, American, Moroccan? Silvia Mmm. I'm undecided. They all look delicious. Mario Don't worry, whatever you choose, our coffee is of the best quality! Silvia Then I'll have an espresso, double please. I need to wake up. Mario Hey Rocco, good morning! Rocco (enters) Good morning, Mario, I'll have the usual one, thanks. Mario How is it going with the movie? You know Silvia, Rocco is a director. Silvia Oh, really? Rocco Yes, madam. Lately, we are shooting a movie here in Milan. Silvia How beautiful! Could I come to see the set from time to time? Rocco Sure, be my guest! Whoever wants to come to the set is welcome, you too, Mario!

Vocabulary Italian English Class giornata day noun entrare to go in, come in, enter verb caffè coffee noun preparare to prepare, make, set, arrange verb delizioso delightful, delicious adjective ultimamente lately, of late adverb

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Oggi è proprio una bella giornata. "Today is really a good day." Fa freddo fuori! Entra! "It's cold outside! Come in!" Entriamo? "Shall we go in?" Un caffè macchiato, grazie. "A caffè macchiato, thank you." (Coffee with a small amount of hot milk) Il corso mira a preparare gli studenti per "The course aims to prepare students for a wide un’ampio ventaglio di carriere. range of careers." Questa torta è deliziosa. "This cake is delicious." 3 Ultimamente che film hai visto? "Lately, what movies have you seen?"

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Different Employments of the Modo congiuntivo ("Subjunctive Mood") and the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Volere ("to want," "to wish"). Non si preoccupi signora, qualunque scelta lei faccia, il nostro caffè è della migliore qualità! "Don't worry, whatever you choose, our coffee is of the best quality!"

The use of the subjunctive mood is required after personal or impersonal verbs that express opinions or superficial appearances, which we can broadly call "opinion verbs."

For Example:

Italian "English" Penso che sia una bella giornata. "I think it's a beautiful day." Sembra strano che Luca non voglia "It seems strange that Luca doesn't vedere Lucia. want to see Lucia." Credevo che tu pagassi la bolletta. "I thought you'd pay the bill."

The tense agreement depends on the action expressed in the secondary clause. Please refer to the previous Lower Intermediate lessons for additional details.

We also use the subjunctive mood after the following indefinite pronouns and conjunctions: chiunque (pronoun, meaning "whoever"/"whomever"), qualunque (pronoun, meaning "whoever," "whatever," "whichever"), ovunque/dovunque* (as a conjunction, meaning "wherever"), comunque* (as a conjunction, meaning "no matter").

For Example: Italian "English" Chiunque voglia venire è il "Whoever wants to come is benvenuto. welcome." Qualunque scelta tu prenda, io ti "Whatever choice you take, I'll 4 appoggerò. support you." Non mi dimenticherò di te, ovunque "I won't forget you, wherever I'll be." io sia. Comunque vada il tuo esame, hai "No matter how your exam goes, you fatto del tuo meglio. did your best."

*Please note that when dovunque and comunque are used as adverbs, we do not have to conjugate the following verb (if any) at the subjunctive mood.

For Example: Italian "English" Ho cercato il tuo portafoglio "I looked for your wallet everywhere." dovunque. Hai fatto bene ad aspettarmi, "I appreciate you waiting for me, comunque non dovevi. though you didn't have to."

Conjugation of the Verb Volere in the Present Subjunctive

The verb volere ("to want," "to wish") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

volere ("to want," "to wish") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" Che io voglia "I want" Che tu voglia "you want" Che lui/lei voglia "he/she/it wants" Che noi vogliamo "we want" Che voi vogliate "you want" Che loro vogliano "they want"

5 Cultural Insight

Basilica di Superga

The Basilica di Superga ("Basilica of Superga") was erected to fulfill a vow Duke Vittorio Amedeo II made in front of Madonna delle Grazie ("Her Lady of Favors") during a troubled period of his reign. In 1706, Turin was under siege by French troops under the guidance of Louis XIV. The French king aimed to conquer the whole Piemonte region and annex it to his lands; however, his efforts were met with equal determination by Vittorio Amedeo II, who put up a heroic resistance with the few resources he had at his disposal.

The tale says that Vittorio Amedeo and Prince Eugenio went on Superga hill to view the two opposing armies. They then went into the church and made the following vow: if their army won the incoming battle, they would build a new church to honor the protection Her Lady granted. The combat started at around ten o'clock in the morning and lasted for the whole day. The two opposing factions fought to the best of their abilities, despite losing many men on both sides to the bloodshed. By the end of the day, the exhausted French troops withdrew and left the field to the Piemontesi lords.

After becoming the King of Sicily and Sardinia, Vittorio Amedeo demolished the former church and had the hill lowered by forty meters in order to make enough room on its top for the new project. The great architect Filippo Juvarra accepted the plan and built the marvelous Basilica.

If you wish to know more about the Basilica of Superga, you may visit its website at the following link: http://www.basilicadisuperga.com. (An English version of the website is available.)

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Despite Everything You've Learned in Italian, This is the Holy Grail!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 15 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 75 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Mario Buonasera ragazzi! Mark Buonasera! Mario Cosa vi servo? Jessica Per me una coca, per favore. Mario E lei? Birra? Mark No, grazie. Malgrado io voglia bere, non posso perché dopo dovrò guidare la macchina. Mario Che ragazzo responsabile! Siete da molto a Milano? Jessica No, non molto. Sebbene siano solo due giorni abbiamo girato molto in auto. Mark Si l'abbiamo vista abbastanza, ora vogliamo andare a Roma! Mario Eh (sospira), Roma, mi ricorda quando ero ragazzo. Mark Abitava a Roma? Mario No, ma la mia ragazza sì. E malgrado volessi stare insieme con lei, non potevamo vederci per via della distanza. Jessica Oh, gli italiani sono così romantici!

English

Mario Good evening, guys! 2 Mark Good evening! Mario What can I give you? Jessica A coke for me, please. Mario And you? Beer? Mark No, thanks. Even though I want to drink, I can't because I'll have to drive the car. Mario What a responsible guy! Have you been in Milan for long? Jessica No, not much. Although it's only been two days, we've traveled a lot by car. Mark Yes, we've seen it enough. Now we want to go to Rome! Mario Eh (sighs), Rome. It reminds me of when I was young. Mark Were you living in Rome? Mario No, but my girlfriend was. And although I wanted to stay with her, we couldn't see each other because of the distance. Jessica Oh, Italians are so romantic!

Vocabulary Italian English Class servire to serve, wait on verb malgrado although conjunction responsabile responsible adjective guidare to drive, guide verb distanza distance, gap, spacing noun romantico romantic adjective

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Il cameriere serve ai tavoli. "The waiter waits on the tables." Malgrado faccia caldo, oggi metterò i jeans. "Although it's hot, today I'll wear jeans." Luca è un ragazzo responsabile. "Luca is a responsible guy." Guidavo la macchina. "I was driving the car." La distanza tra quelle auto è due metri. "The distance between those cars is two meters. Ultimamente, sei molto romantico. "Lately, you're very romantic."

3 Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is What Context You Use the "Subjunctive Mood," the Conjunctions Normally Followed by Verbs Conjugated in That Mood, and the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb dare ("to give") Malgrado io voglia bere, non posso perché dopo dovrò guidare la macchina. "Even though I want to drink, I can't because I'll have to drive the car."

The subjunctive mood is also required after the following categories of conjunctions:

1st- malgrado, nonostante ("despite the fact," "in spite of"); benché, sebbene, quantunque, nonostante che ("although," "though," "however," "even though").

For Example: Italian "English"

Malgrado la volesse molto, Gianluca "Gianluca didn't manage to buy the non è riuscito a comprare la giacca. jacket, despite the fact he much wanted to." Nonostante fosse tardi, decisero di "Despite the fact it was late, they partire comunque. decided to leave anyway." Benché piovesse, i ragazzi andarono "Though it was raining, the guys a giocare a calcio. went to play football (soccer)." Non posso venire da te, sebbene lo "I cannot come to your place, desideri. although I wish to." Quantunque i tuoi consigli siano "Although your advices are wise, I saggi, non posso accettarli. cannot accept them." Nonostante Serena lo abbia ripetuto "Even though Serena repeated it molte volte, suo figlio non smise di many times, her son didn't stop being fare rumore. noisy."

Please note that the conjunction anche se ("even though") is an exception to the rule provided above; it always requires the presente indicativo ("simple present") tense.

For Example:

1. Anche se non lo vuoi, devi farti la doccia. 4 "Even though you don't want to, you have to take a shower."

2nd- conjunctions introducing final clauses: affinchè, perchè ("in order to," "so that").

For Example: Italian "English" Affinchè gli eserciti smettano di "In order for the armies to cease combattare, entrambi devono firmarefighting, they both have to sign a una tregua. truce." Perchè i tuoi sogni si avverino, devi "You have to seriously commit impegnarti seriamente. yourself, so that your dreams may come true." Devi pulire la stanza, affinchè il tuo "You have to clean up the room, so ospite possa viverci. that your guest can live in it."

Conjugation of the Verb Dare ("to give") at the Congiuntivo presente ("Present Subjunctive")

The verb dare ("to give") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

dare ("to give") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" che io dia che tu dia che lui/lei dia che"I give" "you give" "he/she/it gives" noi diamo che voi diate che loro diano"we give" "you give" "they give"

Cultural Insight

Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio

The chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio ("church of the Great Mother of God," simply called Gran Madre ) is one the most important churches in Turin. The church lies at bottom of a short hill, in a very evocative spot close to the Po River (the longest Italian river). It faces Piazza Vittorio Veneto, one of the largest European squares, finely adorned with long rows of porticoes.

5 The church was built to celebrate the return of the king Vittorio Emanuele I di Savoia on May 20, 1814, after his victorious campaign against Napoleon. The church's bell bears a Latin epigraph that says Ordo populusque Taurinus ob adventum regis, which means "The aristocracy and commoners of Turin (erected this church here) for the return of the king."

Two large statues stand at the entrance of the small square in front of the church. They represent Fede ("Faith") and Ragione ("Reason"), and were made by Carlo Chelli. Fede holds a chalice that, according to the esoteric tradition, is a perfect copy of the Holy Grail. In addition, in line with this belief, the statue faces the direction where the relic is hidden, thus waiting for somebody to follow her gaze. There are many legends about this "historical gossip." We will talk more about it in the upcoming cultural insights.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Unless You Hurry Up, We'll Leave You Behind in Italian!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 16 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 6 80 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Mario Allora avete deciso? Andate a Roma? Mark Si! Mario Cosa andrete a vedere durante il primo giorno? Jessica A meno che Mark non cambi idea, andremo a vedere il Colosseo! Mark Sì! Un'altra coca per me, per favore Mario. Mario Subito! Jessica Poi prevedevamo di cenare all'Antica Pesa, a Trastevere, a meno che non sia super affollato. Mario Mi raccomando non perdetevi i concerti dell'Estate Romana. Jessica Dove sono? Mario A Castel Sant'Angelo. Mark Wow, grazie! Mario Nessun problema. Potrei venire a Roma con voi, ma devo lavorare! Jessica Non importa, grazie lo stesso per i consigli!

English

Mario So have you decided? Are you going to Rome? Mark Yes! Mario What will you visit on your first day? 2 Jessica Unless Mark doesn't change his mind, we will visit the Colosseum! Mark Yes! Another coke for me, Mario. Thanks! Mario Right away! Jessica Then we planned to have dinner at the Antica Pesa, in Trastevere, unless it will be super crowded. Mario Please don't miss the concerts of the Estate Romana. Jessica Where are they? Mario At Saint Angelo's castle. Mark Wow, thanks! Mario No problem. I could come to Rome with you. But I have to work! Jessica Oh, it doesn't matter, thanks for your advice!

Vocabulary

Italian English Class decidere to decide, settle verb meno less adverb subito immediately, right away, adverb straightaway prevedere to foresee, forecast, guess verb cenare to have dinner, to dine verb affollato to crowd, fill verb

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Ho deciso di sposarmi. "I've decided to marry." Sono meno grasso adesso. "I am less fat now." Vorrei due pizze al prosciutto. Subito! "I’d like two ham pizzas. Right away!" Torna subito a casa! "Come back home immediately!" Ho previsto le sue mosse. "I foresaw his moves." Stasera ceniamo a casa. "Tonight, we will have dinner at home." Ceno normalmente alle otto. "I normally dine at 8:00 PM." Questo ristorante è affollato. "This restaurant is crowded." 3 Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is the Conjunctions That Are Normally Followed by Verbs Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood, and the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb stare ("to be," "to stay") A meno che Mark non cambi idea, andremo a vedere il Colosseo! "Unless Mark doesn't change his mind, we will visit the Colosseum!"

Verbs that come after the conjunctions provided below require the subjunctive mood:

3rd - all conjunctions introducing the subordinate clause and type II and III if-clauses

These conjunctions and phrases are simply one-word synonyms or short phrases whose employment relates to formal stylistic variants. Expressions such as nel caso in cui, nell'eventualità che, nell'ipotesi che ("in case"); qualora, se mai, allorchè ("if"); a patto che, purché ("provided that"); and the like, all fall into this category.

For Example: Italian "English" 4 Qualora tu lo volessi, potresti "If you wished so, you could come venire a Roma con me. to Rome with me." Nell'eventualità che la tua ragazza "In case your girlfriend had been fosse arrivata in ritardo, avresti late, you could have used my potuto usare il mio telefono per phone to call her." chiamarla. Nel caso in cui Tommaso lo "In case Tommaso wanted to, he volesse, potrebbe dormire da me. could sleep at my place."

Please note that when the subordinate clauses convey a condition that is likely to happen (i.e., when we are dealing with either type I or mixed if-clauses), we may alternatively use the presente indicativo ("simple present").

For Example:

Qualora tu abbia tempo, mi piacerebbe andare in piscina assieme. "If you have time, I'd like to go to the swimming pool with you."

4th - conjunctions preceding the so-called exceptive phrases: a meno che...non, salvo che...non, tranne che*, etc. ("unless")

Exceptive phrases are generally short clauses introducing the condition(s) to which the main phrase statement is subjected. These conjunctions obey the following syntax:

Conjunction + Subject + non

For Example: Italian "English" 5 Andremo a ballare, a meno che tu "We'll go dancing, unless you non voglia andare al cinema. want to go the cinema." Dobbiamo aprire il negozio alle 9, "We have to open the store at nine salvo che Luca non cambi idea. o'clock in the morning, unless Luca changes his mind." Dovremmo cenare da Mario, "We should dine at Mario's, unless tranne che* tu non lo voglia. you don't want to."

*Tranne che is quite informal, and you should avoid it in formal speech.

The conjunction se non che is an exception to the rule provided above; it is always followed by the presente indicativo ("simple present").

For Example:

Serena potrebbe diventare molto brava, se non che non ha voglia di allenarsi.

"Serena could get very good, were it not for the fact she doesn't want to train."

Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Stare ("to be," "to stay") at the Congiuntivo presente ("Present Subjunctive")

The verb stare ("to be," "to stay") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

stare ("to be," "to stay") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" che io stia che tu stia che lui/lei stia "I stay" "you stay" "he/she/it che noi stiamo che voi stiate che loro stays" "we stay" "you stay" "they 6 stiano stay"

Cultural Insight

Mausoleo della Bela Rosin

The Mausoleo della Bela Rosin ("Mausoleum of the Bela Rosin") is a neoclassical building in Turin, smaller but very similar to the Roman Pantheon. The sons of Rosa Vercellana erected it as the family tomb (named in the dialect of Turin Bela Rosin, or in Italian Bella Rosina, which means "Beautiful Rosina").

The mausoleum lies in a large park that is thirty thousand square meters in area. The front of the round-shaped tomb bears the inscription Dio Padre Famiglia ("God, Father, Family"), words that were meant to represent the moral values of Vercellana family. The Fascist party subsequently used these three words to exemplify the Italian-Fascist virtues after the Lateran Pacts in 1929.

Many unfortunate events have plagued the monument. The city of Turin purchased the tomb from its former owners, the heirs of the Rosina family, in 1970. It was then opened to visitors, but after only two years, the mausoleum was desecrated, thus forcing the city authorities to move Rosa's remains to the city cemetery. The place suffered many hideous acts of vandalism, due to both the inability of city to find a suitable owner and the rumors about satanic rituals that took place inside it. This embarrassing situation came to an end in 2005, when a combined effort of private and public companies renovated the place and devoted it to host plays, art exhibitions, and concerts.

7 You may see the present state of the Mausoleo della Bela Rosin at the following website:

http://www.parks.it/parco.po.to/foto/Mausoleo.BelaRosin-800.jpg

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Before You Go To Italy, Be Sure to Study This Lesson!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 17 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 87 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Jessica Poi cosa dovremmo vedere a Roma, secondo Lei? Mario Umm, vediamo. Non dovreste perdere lo Zodiaco. Mark Lo Zodiaco…cos'è? Mario È un osservatorio astronomico su Monte Mario, famoso per un ristorante molto suggestivo. Jessica Wow! Allora ci dobbiamo andare! Mario La maggior parte delle persone va lì non tanto perché il cibo sia buono, ma perché la vista di Roma è incredibile. Mark Grazie mille per i tuoi consigli Mario. Ora però dobbiamo tornare in albergo prima che faccia buio. Mario Prima che ve ne andiate, prendete un'altra fetta di torta, offre la casa. Jessica Grazie! Le manderemo una cartolina! Mario Grazie.

English

Mario Then what should we see in Rome, in your opinion? Mario Umm, let's see. You shouldn't miss the Zodiaco. Mark The Zodiaco…what's that? Mario It's an astronomical observatory on Monte Mario, famous for a very 2 suggestive restaurant. Jessica Wow! Then we have to go there! Mario The majority of people go there not because the food is good, but because the view of Rome that you get from there is incredible. Mark Thank you very much for your advices, Mario. But now we have to go back to the hotel before it gets dark. Mario Before you leave, take another slice of cake; it's on the house. Jessica Thanks! We will send you a postcard! Mario Thank you.

Vocabulary Italian English Class perdere to lose, waste, miss verb

osservatorio observatory noun astronomico astronomical adjective famoso famous adjective albergo hotel noun buio dark, darkness noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Ho perso il portafogli. "I lost my wallet." Abbiamo perso la partita. "We lost the match." Andiamo all'osservatorio. "Let's go to the observatory." Questi prezzi sono astronomici! "These prices are astronomical!" Quel tizio è famoso. "That guy is famous." Hai prenotato l'albergo? "Did you book the hotel?" È buio. "It's dark."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Completing Our Survey of Italian Conjunctions Followed by Verbs 3 Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood and the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb andare ("to go") La maggior parte delle persone va lì non tanto perché il cibo sia buono, ma perché la vista di Roma è incredibile. "The majority of people go there not because the food is good, but because the view of Rome that you get from there is incredible."

The following conjunctions are followed by verbs conjugated in the subjunctive mood.

5th - After perché, when it conveys a false cause.

For Example:

Italian "English" Ferruccio parlava con me non (literally) "Ferruccio talked to me perché (false cause) fosse not because he was bored, but annoiato, ma perché (true cause) because he was kind." era gentile. Guardavo il documentario non (literally) "I was watching the perché (false cause) fosse documentary not because it was interessante, ma perché (true interesting, but because I didn't cause) non avevo niente di meglio have anything better to do." 4 da fare. Vado al parco non perché (false (literally) "I go to the park not cause) sia caldo, ma perché (true because it's warm, but because I cause) ho voglia di prendere il want to tan." sole.

6th- After prima che.

For Example:

Italian "English" Prima che tu vada via, prendi "Before you leave, take another un'altra fetta di torta. slice of cake." Dobbiamo tornare a casa prima "We have to go home before it che faccia buio. gets dark." Devo pulire la camera prima che "I need to clean up the room arrivi la mia ragazza. before my girlfriend arrives."

Conjugation of the Verb Andare ("to go") at the Congiuntivo presente ("Present Subjunctive")

The verb andare ("to go") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

5 andare ("to go") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" che io vada che tu vada che lui/lei "I go" "you go" "he/she/it goes" vada che noi andiamo che voi "we go" "you go" "they go" andiate che loro vadano

Cultural Insight

Mole Antonelliana

The Mole Antonelliana is the most important landmark of Turin. Its name comes from the family name of the architect who built it, Mr. Alessandro Antonelli. Along with Philadelphia City Hall, the Mole is presently the tallest brickwork building worldwide (167.5 meters high).

The building was originally intended to become a Jewish synagogue, and its construction was initially funded directly by Turin's Jewish community. However, during the construction, Antonelli decided he wanted the synagogue to become a unique piece of art. He kept changing the original plan, especially the length of the column on top of the dome. The Jewish community did not like Antonelli's idea of making such a majestic piece of art, mostly because they did not want the inhabitants of Turin to think it represented a challenge to other religions, especially to the Christian churches. The construction of the Mole Antonelliana lasted for forty years before its completion in 1908.

The structure currently hosts the permanent Italian Museo Nazionale del Cinema ("National Museum 6 of Cinema"). In this suggestive setting, the collections count many unique pieces, including optical devices used in the nineteenth century before the development of movie cameras.

If you wish to know more about this interesting museum, visit its website at the following link: http://www.museocinema.it/en/cover_en.php.

(An English version of the website is available.)

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 This Italian Job Is Not Open to Just Anyone!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 18 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 6 93 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Jack B-buongiorno! Mario Uè, buongiorno! Posso aiutarti? Jack Veramente sarei qui per il lavoro come barista. Mario Ah, il lavoro part-time eh? È aperto a tutti coloro che parlino italiano. Jack Penso di cavarmela abbastanza bene. Mario Ok. Sei sicuro di potercela fare? A me serve uno che sappia usare bene la macchina per il caffè e che sappia fare il cappuccino. Jack Penso di saperlo fare, mi metta alla prova! Mario Va bene, allora ti metto subito al lavoro, vediamo cosa sai fare! (dopo 5 minuti) Mario (bevendo il cappuccino) Ummm, una meraviglia, bravo Jack, sei più sveglio di quanto sembri. Assunto! Jack Gra-grazie Mario!

English

Jack G-good morning! Mario Hey, good morning! Can I help you? Jack Actually, I'm here for the barman job. Mario Ah, the part-time job huh? It's open to anyone who can speak Italian. 2 Jack I think I can get away with that. Mario Okay. Are you sure you can do it? I need somebody who's capable of using the coffee machine and who can do cappuccino. Jack I think I can do it. Please try me out! Mario All right, let's get to work then. Let's see what you can do! (after five minutes) Mario (drinking the cappuccino) Ummm, wonderful, well-done Jack, you're smarter than you look. You're hired! Jack T-thanks, Mario!

Vocabulary Italian English Class aiutare to help, aid, assist verb

veramente really adverb barista barman noun cavarsela to get away with something, go verb free meraviglia wonder noun assumere to hire verb

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Grazie per l’aiuto. "Thanks for the help." Puoi aiutarmi, non trovo più il mio gatto. "Can you help me; I can't find my cat anymore." Ti posso aiutare? "Can I help you?" Stasera sei veramente bella! "You are really beautiful this evening!" Voglio fare il barista. "I want to be a barman." Posso cavarmela. "I can get away with it." Che meraviglia! "How wonderful!" Per favore mi assuma! "Please hire me!"

Grammar Points 3 The Focus of This Lesson Is Conjunctions That Are Followed by Verbs Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood and the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb fare ("to do," "to make") Ummm, una meraviglia, bravo Jack, sei più sveglio di quanto sembri. "Ummm, wonderful, well done Jack, you're smarter than you look."

We use the subjunctive mood when using certain clauses:

1st - In comparative clauses (majority and minority only), when the subordinate phrase that expresses the second term of comparison includes a verb.

For Example: Italian "English" Tu sei più sveglio di quanto Maria "You are smarter than what Maria non creda. thinks." Noi abbiamo speso più di quanto "We spent more than we wanted avessimo voluto. to." Loro sono meno intelligenti di "They are less intelligent than you quel che tu voglia accettare. are willing to accept."

Please note that in this case we could also employ the presente indicativo ("simple present") in spoken Italian, though it would be better to use the subjunctive mood both in the spoken and written Italian.

Learning Tip

4 In the comparative clauses that require the subjunctive mood, the secondary phrase is almost always introduced by di quanto, di quel ("than").

2nd - When used in relative clauses, the subjunctive mood suggests a condition, request, or restriction.

For Example: Italian "English" Construction Questo corso è aperto a "This course is open Condition tutti coloro che parlino to anybody who

Italiano. speaks Italian." Cerchiamo una persona"We're looking for Request che possa tradurre somebody that is able dall'inglese all'italiano. to translate from English into Italian." Mi serve qualcuno che "I need somebody Restriction sappia usare il who's able to use the computer. computer."

Please note that we have to employ the presente indicativo ("simple present") whenever we refer to real facts or people. Taking the last example:

1. Parlando di Gianni, mi serve qualcuno che sa usare il computer. "Speaking of Gianni, I need somebody who's able to use the computer."

Employing the simple present, the speaker refers to a real person, implying he knows that Gianni is able to use the computer.

Finally, using the congiuntivo imperfetto in the relative clause ("imperfect subjunctive") implies a hypothesis.

For Example: 5 1. Ho comprato una torta, per chi ne volesse un po'. "I bought a cake, in case somebody wants some."

Conjugation of the Verb Fare ("to do, to make") at the Congiuntivo presente ("Present Subjunctive")

The verb fare ("to do," "to make") follows an irregular conjugation at the congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive"), as presented below.

fare ("to do," "to make") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" che io faccia che tu faccia che "I do" "you do" "he/she/it does" lui/lei faccia che noi facciamo che "we do" "you do" "they do" voi facciate che loro facciano

Cultural Insight

QVI NACQVE VITTORIO EMANUELE II ("Vittorio Emanuele II was born here.")

6 Palazzo Carignano ("Carignano Palace") is a historical building set in the center of Turin. Along with Palazzo Reale ("Royal Palace") and Palazzo Madama ("Madama Palace"), it is the most culturally important building in Turin.

This building is strongly connected to the Italian Risorgimento ("Resurgence"). Carlo Alberto di Savoia-Carignano publicly read the Spanish Constitution on March 13, 1821. Upon Carlo Alberto's accession to the throne, the palace ceased to be a private meeting center and became a state land. In 1848, the city authorities decided that Palazzo Carignano would be the Camera dei Deputati ("Chamber of Deputies") of the parlamento subalpino ("subalpine parliament"), a sort of pre-Italian parliament. In 1861, the establishment of the first parlamento italiano ("Italian parliament") changed

the political role of the palace. Since it was deemed to be too small to host the large number of the members of the parliament, the baroque building became the informal meeting place for many politicians. A temporary House of the Parliament was built right in front of it and it served its purpose until the capital city moved from Turin to Florence in 1864.

Today, it hosts the Museo del Risorgimento ("Resurgence Museum"). You may find additional information about both the palace and the museum at the following link:

http://www.comune.torino.it/musei/pag/mnazris.htm

(No English version of the website is available.)

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Is Something Up With Your Italian Boss?

Formal Italian 2 English 2 19 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 100 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Mario Hey Jack come va? Ti vedo molto indaffarato. Jack Eh sì. Tante persone nello stesso momento, ma me la cavo. Comunque sembra che tutti vadano di fretta oggi. Mario Ah, qui è sempre così, sai. Hai fatto un bel lavoro con i tramezzini e gli stuzzichini, vedo che i clienti apprezzano. Jack Bene, mi fa piacere. Mario Senti stasera io e mia sorella andiamo ad un concerto. Vorresti venire con noi? Jack Non lo so, dipende da quanto sono stanco. Mario Va bene, ma nel caso tu volessi venire con noi potremmo venire a prenderti con la macchina. Dai vieni, ci saranno anche le amiche di mia sorella Giulia! Jack Allora in questo caso la stanchezza non è un problema! Mario Ah ah ah! Ben detto Jack! Cominciamo a pulire dietro il bancone che forse riusciamo a chiudere prima!

English

Mario Hey, Jack, how is it going? I see you are very busy. Jack Oh, yes. A lot of people at the same time, but I'm getting by. Anyway, it 2 seems everybody is in a hurry today. Mario Ah, here it's always like this, you know. You did a good job with the sandwiches and appetizers. I see the customers appreciate them. Jack Good! I'm happy. Mario Listen, tonight my sister and I are going to a concert. Would you like to come with us? Jack I don't know. It depends on how tired I am. Mario Okay, but in the case you wished to come with us, we could pick you up by car. Come on, there'll also be my sister Giulia's friends! Jack Well, in this case, weariness is not a problem! Mario Ah ah ah! Well-told, Jack! Let's start cleaning behind the counter so we can close earlier.

Vocabulary

Italian English Class indaffarato busy adjective tramezzino sandwich noun stuzzichino appetizer noun apprezzare appreciate, prize verb (second person plural of pouvoir) stanco tired adjective dietro behind preposition

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Sono sempre molto indaffarato al lavoro. "I am always very busy at work." Mi piacciono i tramezzini al tonno. "I like tuna sandwiches." Questi stuzzichini sono troppo salati. "These appetizers are too salty." Apprezzo molto quello che stai facendo per me. "I appreciate what you are doing for me." Sembri proprio stanco. "You look very tired." Lui è stanco. "He is tired." C'è una persona dietro la porta. "There is a person behind the door."

3 Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is the Clauses Followed by Verbs Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood. Moreover, We Will See the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Andare ("to go"). Va bene, ma nel caso tu volessi venire con noi potremmo venire a prenderti con la macchina. "Okay, but in the case you wished to come with us we could pick you up by car."

3rd - We can employ the subjunctive mood in indirect interrogative clauses instead of the presente indicativo ("present indicative"), though from a grammatical standpoint, it is not strictly necessary. In this case, either the use of the subjunctive tense achieves more elegant stylistic results or it conveys a lower degree of certainty in regards to the subject preceding the verb, according to the context it is inserted into.

In the written language, Italians tend to employ the subjunctive rather than the indicative mood.

For Example: Indicative Subjunctive "English" Bussano alla porta, mi Bussano alla porta, mi "Somebody's chiedo chi è. (present chiedo chi sia. (present knocking at the door, indicative, standard subjunctive) I wonder who it is." form) Qualcuno ha rotto il Qualcuno ha rotto il "Somebody broke the telefono, immagino chi telefono, immagino chi phone, I think I know è stato. (indicative sia stato. (congiuntivo who." passato prossimo, passato, "past standard form)*. subjunctive")*. Arrivano gli ospiti, non Arrivano gli ospiti, non "The guests are so se sono tutti italiani. so se siano tutti italiani. coming, I don't know (present indicative, (present subjunctive) whether they are all standard form) Italian or not."

* Please note that we will explain the tense agreement in the relevant section. As for now, it suffices to say that when we conjugate the verb of the primary clause in the passato prossimo tense, the verb of the secondary clause is conjugated in the congiuntivo passato tense.

4th - When formulating type II and III if-clauses, we use the subjunctive mood in the subordinate 4 clause. In type II if-clauses, we conjugate the verb of the secondary clause in the congiuntivo imperfetto ("imperfect subjunctive"). In type III if-clauses, we conjugate the verb of the secondary clause in the congiuntivo trapassato ("pluperfect subjunctive").

For further information regarding if-clauses, including the possible different combinations and their meanings, please refer to the appropriate lessons.

Additionally, do not forget that prepositions other than se ("if"), such as qualora (if, in case), caso mai, nel caso che ("in case"), and so on, may introduce this kind of clause.

For Example: Italian "English" Nel caso volessi (imperfect subjunctive)"In case you wished to come venire con noi, potrei venire a with us, I could pick you up." prenderti.

Se avessi aspettato un po' di più, avresti"If you had waited a bit incontrato Luca. longer, you would have met Luca." Qualora suonassero (imperfect "In case somebody rang at the subjunctive) alla porta, non aprirei. door, I wouldn't open it."

Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Andare ("to go")

andare ("to go") Congiuntivo presente "Present Subjunctive" che io vada "I go" che tu vada "you go" che lui/lei vada "he/she/it goes" che noi andiamo "we go" che voi andiate "you go" che loro vadano "they go"

5 Cultural Insight Parco Naturale della Collina Torinese

The Parco Naturale della Collina Torinese (the "Parkland of Turin Hill") is a huge natural reserve that comprises two subareas, Bosco del Vaj ("Vaj Wood") and Collina di Superga ("Superga Hill").

In 1978, Italy officially sanctioned Bosco del Vaj (Vaj Wood) as a national nature reserve, due to the presence of its rich fauna and flora, along with the fact it has remained practically unaffected by Turin's urban growth. In addition, it hosts not only mountains, but also many Mediterranean plant species that are not normally found at those heights. Therefore, it represents a sort of comprehensive "book" of Italian wildlife, of both present and past times.

The Collina di Superga ("Superga Hill") became a national nature park only relatively recently, in 1991. The area has unique environmental and architectural characteristics that make it special. In fact, in addition to a wide range of animals and plants, the important Basilica di Superga lies on the top of

the hill. Curiously, the number of boars has been rapidly increasingly in recent years, thus becoming a potential problem the city authorities will eventually have to deal with, unless they are willing to see full herds of boars roaming throughout the center of Turin.

In case you wish to take a brief virtual tour of the fascinating trails of Parco della Collina Torinese, please follow the link provided below.

http://www.parks.it/parco.collina.torinese/

(An English version of the website is available.)

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Something in Italy Smells Fishy!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 20 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 106 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Giulia Hey Jack! Sono qui! Jack Ah, ciao! Tu devi essere Giulia! Giulia Sì, sono io, piacere. Jack Piacere, Jack. Ma Mario non c'è? Giulia No è rimasto a casa. Jack Perchè è stanco? Oggi è stato stancante a lavoro. Giulia No, Mario è rimasto a casa non perchè fosse stanco, ma a causa della sua ragazza. Jack Perchè? Hanno litigato? Giulia Per quel che ne sappia no. Credo che lei lo abbia invitato ad una cena di famiglia questa sera. Jack Che peccato! Giulia Probabilmente ci raggiungono più tardi. Addesso andiamo che le mie amiche sono ansiose di conoscerti. Poi dobbiamo ancora trovare i biglietti per il concerto. Jack Cosa?

English

Giulia Hey, Jack! I'm here! 2 Jack Ah, hello! You must be Giulia. Giulia Yes, it's me, nice to meet you. Jack Nice to meet you, I'm Jack. But Mario isn't here? Giulia No, he stayed at home. Jack Why? Is he tired? Today, it was tiring at work. Giulia No, Mario stayed at home, not because he was tired, but due to his girlfriend. Jack Why? Did they fight? Giulia As far as I know, no. I think she invited him for a dinner with her family tonight. Jack What a pity! Giulia They will probably join us later. Now let's go. My friends are anxious to meet you. Then we still have to find the tickets for the concert. Jack What?

Vocabulary Italian English Class stancante tiring adjective litigare fight, argue, quarrel, dispute verb probabilmente probably, perhaps adverb raggiungere to reach, achieve, contact, arrive, verb join ansioso anxious, nervous, unquiet adjective biglietto ticket, note, card, banknote noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Giocare a pallavvolo in spiaggia con questo sole è "Playing beach volleyball with this sun is very molto stancante. tiring." Io e mio padre litighiamo sempre. "My father and I are always fighting." Probabilmente andrò a studiare in Cina l'anno "Next year, I'll probably go to study in China." prossimo. Gli altri ci raggiungono dopo cena. "The others are joining us after dinner." La squadra ha raggiunto la finale di pallavolo. "The team has reached the volleyball final." Sono ansiosa per l'esame. "I am anxious for the test." 3 Questo biglietto aereo èmolto costoso. "This flight ticket is very expensive." Ho un biglietto per te. "I have a card for you."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Subordinate Clauses That May be Followed by Verbs Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood. Moreover, We Will See the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb sapere ("to know," "to be aware of"). Mario è rimasto a casa non perchè fosse stanco, ma a causa della sua ragazza. "Mario stayed at home, not because he was tired, but due to his girlfriend."

5th - We may employ the subjunctive mood in phrases that express the cause/s of a previous statement, instead of the indicative tenses that the principle of tense agreement normally requires. This type of

phrase is normally introduced by non perché ("not because").

For Example: Italian "English" Io vado a fare shopping, non "I go shopping not because I need perché abbia/ho bisogno di new clothes, but simply because I abiti nuovi, ma like it." semplicemente perché mi piace. Mario è rimasto a casa, non "Mario stayed at home not perché fosse/era stanco, ma a because he was tired, but due to causa della sua ragazza. his girlfriend." Noi siamo andati a Boston, "We went to Boston, not because non perché we wanted to go on vacation, but volessimo/volevamo fare una because we were interested in a vacanza, ma perché eravamo conference." interessati ad una conferenza.

6th - We may employ the subjunctive mood in subordinate phrases that specify the limits of the main statement, instead of the indicative tense, which the principle of tense agreement usually requires. This kind of phrase is normally introduced by expressions such as per quel che, per quanto, ("as long as," "as far as"), and the like. Please note that we may insert these subordinate clauses either before or after the main phrase.

4 For Example: Italian "English" Serena è sposata, per quel che "As far as I know, Serena is ne so/sappia. married." Per quanto concerne/concerna "As far as credibility is concerned, la credibilità, quel politico nonthat politician is not doing a good sta facendo un buon lavoro. job." Per quel che ne "As far as we know, nobody sappiamo/sappiamo*, nessuno delivered the package." ha mai consegnato il pacco.

*Please note that the first plural person of the indicativo presente ("present indicative") and congiuntivo presente ("present subjunctive") have the same form.

Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Sapere ("to know," "to be aware of")

sapere ("to know," "to be aware of") Congiuntivo presente Present Subjunctive che io sappia "I know" che tu sappia "you know" che lui/lei sappia "he/she/it knows" che noi sappiamo "we know" che voi sappiate "you know" che loro sappiano "they know"

Cultural Insight

Piazza Castello

Piazza Castello is one of the most beautiful piazze in Turin. The architect Ascanio Vitozzi planned its core features in 1584. The piazza itself stretches over 40,000 square meters, and it is surrounded on three sides by massive colonnades built in different periods.

5 The open gallery bordering with Via Garibaldi is the most ancient; it was realized following closely Vitozzi's project and sketches. The remaining two galleries, which border, respectively, with Via Po and Giardino Reale, were built approximately one and half centuries later, during the reign of Carlo Emanuele III of Savoia. Their neoclassic style is clearly recognizable and easily distinguished from the other colonnade, thus enriching the already eclectic style of the piazza.

In 1830, the city authorities decided to renovate the square ground, paving it whole with massive square-shaped stone slabs. At least until the first half of the nineteenth century, the inhabitants of Turin used to call the western portici (Italian plural form of portico) Portici della fiera ("Porticos of the Fair"), since that area used to host two important commercial fairs.

The square was renovated in 2000, due to the Olympic Winter games.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Is the Price Right in Italy?

Formal Italian 2 English 2 21 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 6 111 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Jack Ehi Giulia, non correre così! Giulia Dai Jack, dobbiamo trovare velocemente i biglietti, il concerto sta iniziando. Jack E dove cerchiamo? Giulia Aspetta, eccolo! Un rivenditore di biglietti! Aiutami a trattare il prezzo, mi raccomando. Jack Trattare? Giulia Buonasera, ci servirebbero due biglietti per lo spettacolo di stasera. Rivenditore Sì...Ecco, due adulti, cinquanta euro a testa. Giulia Cinquanta euro? L'altro rivenditore a quell'angolo li metteva solo a quaranta euro a testa. Rivenditore Mmm… Jack È vero, ne ho comprati tre per i miei amici e li ho pagati quaranta euro l'uno. Rivenditore Va bene, allora vi faccio lo sconto, quaranta euro l'uno. Giulia Grazie!

English

Jack Hey, Giulia. Don't run like that! 2 Giulia Come on, Jack, we have to find the tickets quickly because the concert is starting soon. Jack And where should we search for them? Giulia Wait, here he is! A ticket seller! Please help me to negotiate the price. Jack Negotiate? Giulia Good evening, we need two tickets for tonight's show. Ticket seller Yes... Here they are, two adult tickets, fifty euros each. Giulia Fifty euros? The other seller at that corner sells them for just forty euros each. Ticket seller Mmm. Jack That's true, I bought three of them for my friends and I paid them forty euros each. Ticket seller All right, then I'll give you a discount, forty euros each. Giulia Thanks!

Vocabulary Italian English Class correre to run verb velocemente quickly adverb trattare to deal, negotiate verb angolo corner adverb comprare to buy, to purchase verb sconto discount noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Ho corso per due ore. "I ran for two hours." La mosca vola velocemente. "The fly flies quickly." Ho trattato il prezzo. "I negotiated the price." Gira a sinistra a quell'angolo. "At that corner, turn left." Lo compro domani. "I’ll buy it tomorrow." Ho comprato della verdura e della carne per la "I bought some vegetables and some meat for cena di stasera. tonight's dinner." Compro tre mele. "I buy three apples." Tu compri il pane. "You buy the bread." 3 Può farmi uno sconto? "Can you give me a discount?"

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson is Twofold. On the One Hand, We'll See the Structure of the Imperativo Negativo ("negative imperative"), and on the Other, We'll See an Additional Employment of the Tempi Progressivi ("progressive tenses"). Ehi Giulia, non correre così! "Hey, Giulia. Don't run like that!"

In today's dialogue, Jack exhorted Giulia using the imperativo negativo ("negative imperative"): Non

correre così! ("Don't run like that!")

Negative Imperative

The use of the negative imperative in Italian is similar to its English equivalent. We use this structure to issue an order not to do something. Since this form is rather straightforward, we should avoid it in formal or polite speech.

The grammatical form of the negative imperative changes according to the number of the person we employ.

We can create the appropriate form for a singular subject by using the negative particle non followed by the infinitive of the verb:

non + Infinitive of the Verb

4 For Example: Italian "English" Non aprire la porta. "Don't open the door." Non essere pigro. "Don't be lazy." Non bere troppa birra. "Don't drink too much beer."

We can create the appropriate form for a plural subject by using the negative particle non followed by the standard conjugation of the imperative:

non + Imperative of the Verb

For Example: Italian "English" Non guardate la televisione. "Don't watch the TV."

Non prestate attenzione alle sue "Don't pay attention to his/her parole. words." Non mangiate troppo. "Don't eat too much."

Progressive Tenses

The main use of Italian progressive tenses, the presente progressivo ("present progressive") and passato progressivo ("past progressive"), corresponds to that of their English equivalents. However, we can also use the Italian progressive tenses as a possible alternative to forms that express the imminent start of actions. In the dialogue above, Giulia says:

1. Il concerto sta iniziando. (literally) "The concert is starting." 2. Il concerto sta per iniziare. (literally and meaning) "The concert is about to start."

Please note that in Italian the sentences Il concerto sta iniziando and Il concerto sta per iniziare are fully equivalent when we use them to mean that an action will take place shortly. However, we cannot 5 use the second form to express ongoing actions.

For Example: Italian "English" Il bambino sta correndo. "The child is running." Sta piovendo. "It's raining." Luisa stava parlando al telefono. "Luisa was speaking on the phone."

Italian progressive tenses use the auxiliary verb stare in the sense of essere ("to be"). Do not use the auxiliary verb essere in any circumstance.

Cultural Insight

Palazzo Mocenigo

Palazzo Mocenigo ("Mocenigo Palace") had been the private residence of the famous and influential Mocenigo family until 1945, when its last member, Alvise Nicolò, bequeathed it to the city of Venice. The Mocenigo family had an extremely important role in the political and cultural history of Venice; its members acted as ambassadors, generals, and bishops. It even counted nothing less than seven dogi ("doges").

In 1985, the Centro Studi di Storia del Tessuto e del Costume (a cultural organization that specializes in the history of customs and textiles) obtained part of the palace from the city of Venice to establish its own museum. The rest of the palace is kept exactly as Alvise Nicolò and his widow Costanza Faà di Bruno left it, in order to respect and preserve the last vestiges of a past now long gone.

The majority of the works exhibited come from Venice and its former territories, showing the most important artisans' workshops that operated in this artistic field. The exhibition itself is staged as to give visitors the feeling of walking into a house still inhabited, as if the former owners were only 6 temporarily absent.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 How Loud Can It Get in Italian?

Formal Italian 2 English 2 22 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 117 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Jack Per fortuna abbiamo trovato i biglietti. Giulia Davvero. Sembra che ti piaccia questa musica. Jack Il gruppo mi piace, poi le tue amiche sono delle ragazze molto simpatiche e socievoli. Giulia Aspetta, ho ricevuto una telefonata, che sia stato Mario a chiamarmi? Ah no, è un messaggio. Jack È Mario? Giulia Sì... Ecco, dice che non vengono perchè ormai è tardi e il concerto è già iniziato. Che bugiardo! Jack No dai, non credo che dica stupidaggini. Giulia Tu ancora non conosci mio fratello!

English

Jack Fortunately, we found the tickets. Giulia True. It seems that you like this music. Jack I like the band, and your friends are very nice and sociable girls. Giulia Wait, I received a phone call. Is it possible it was Mario? Ah, no. It's a message. Jack Is that Mario? 2 Giulia Yes…he's saying that they're not coming because it's too late and the concert has already started. What a liar! Jack Hey, come on! I don't think he says foolish things. Giulia You don't know my brother yet!

Vocabulary Italian English Class simpatico nice, funny, likable adjective socievole sociable, social, genial adjective messaggio message noun ormai now, by now adverb bugiardo liar, untruthful, false noun

stupidaggine stupid thing, foolish thing, crock noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Tuo padre è molto simpatico. "Your father is very nice." Il mio college di lavoro non è molto socievole. "My co-worker is not so sociable." Ho capito il messaggio. "I understood the message." Ormai è troppo tardi. "It's too late by now." Il mio fidanzato è un bugiardo. "My boyfriend is a liar." Non dire stupidaggini. "Don't say stupid things."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Subordinate Clauses That May be Followed by Verbs Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood. Moreover, We Will See the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb dire ("to say," "to tell"). Aspetta, ho ricevuto una telefonata, che sia stato Mario a chiamarmi? Ah no, è un messaggio. "Wait, I received a phone call. Is it possible it was Mario? Ah, no. It's a message."

7th - We can use the subjunctive mood in the main clause to express a desire, exhortation, or a 3 supposition.

For Example: Italian "English" (Io desidero che) Che ogni "(I wish that) Every person may live persona possa vivere felice. happily." Siate così gentili da aspettare "Please, be so kind as to wait another altri due giorni. two days." Ho ricevuto una telefonata. "I received a phone call. Is it possible it Che sia stata Silvia a was Silvia?" chiamarmi?

8th - When we formulate a main clause whose verb expresses an opinion (the so-called opinion verbs), we employ the subjunctive mood in the secondary clause only when the subjects of both clauses do not coincide.

For Example: Italian "English" Lui pensa che voi siate "He thinks that you are intelligent." intelligenti. Antonio ha ritenuto che questa "Antonio deemed this solution to be fosse la soluzione più the most appropriate." appropriate. Loro credono che voi siate "They believe that you are Italian." italiani.

Please note that when the subjects of the main and subordinate phrases coincide, we tend to use the construction di + infinito (di + "infinitive," either present or past) in the secondary clause.

For Example: Italian "English" Io penso di essere intelligente. "I think I'm intelligent." Antonio ha ritenuto di avere "Antonio deemed himself to have avuto molta fortuna. been very lucky." Loro credono di essere "They think they are Italian." italiani.

Finally, you can omit the subjects of the main and subordinate phrases so long as the listener can infer 4 them from the context.

For Example: Italian "English" Noi siamo arrivati a Milano. "We arrived in Milan. We thought it Pensavamo che fosse più was noisier." rumorosa. Luisa è inamorata di John. "Luisa is in love with John. She Pensa sempre che sia con lei. always thinks he's with her." I ragazzi hanno giocato una "The guys played a match. They partita. Pensavano che fosse thought it was easy to win it." facile vincere.

Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Dire ("to say," "to tell")

dire ("to say," "to tell")

Congiuntivo presente Present Subjunctive che io dica "I say" che tu dica "you say" che lui/lei dica "he/she/it says" che noi diciamo "we say" che voi diciate "you say" che loro dicano "they say"

Cultural Insight

Porte Palatine

The Porte Palatine ("Palatine Gates") are an impressive example of Roman military architecture, and they are perfectly preserved in Turin. During their millennia-long history, they have served different purposes. They witnessed the passage of Charles le Magne in 773, king Lotharius in 947, and Frederick Redbeard in the thirteenth century. They were recently also used as female prison, until their renovation in 1860 returned the gates to their former aspect. However, the rumor that says even the Romans used the gates as a state jail seems rather strange, to say the least. 5 A legend maintains that even Pontius Pilate was kept prisoner there. In his Gospel, St. Luke suggests Pilate led many heinous massacres, the last being directed at the Samaritans. They appealed to Vitellius to stop the carnage and punish the evil Roman prefect. Vitellius sent him to Rome to be judged directly by the Roman emperor Tiberius, who died before Pilate arrived. At this point, the narration takes different paths: one version states that Pilate died in Rome; another says he was exiled in France and stayed in Turin, precisely at Porte Palatine, as a prisoner for a short period of time. Truth be told, no historian has ever given this tale much credit. The only written source is that of an Italian journalist of the early twentieth century. This legend was probably born during the Renaissance, when the Holy Shroud, held in the nearby Cathedral, gave rise to much semi-historical, semi-religious gossip.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 Can You Get Lost In Your Italian?

Formal Italian 2 English 2 23 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 122 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Jack Wow, che bello! Grazie per l'invito. Mi è piaciuto molto il concerto. Giulia Eh sì, ho visto come saltavi! Ehi, ma dove sono le ragazze? Jack Non lo so, ma sanno dov'è l'uscita? Giulia Dove sia l'uscita lo sanno, ma ce ne sono quattro! Jack Perchè non provi a chiamarle? Giulia Sì, speriamo che tengano d'occhio il cellulare, con tutta questa confusione come possono sentirlo. Jack Aspetta, le vedo! Sono laggiù alle bancarelle! Giulia Ah, sì. Andiamo là anche noi.

English

Jack Wow, great! Thank you for inviting me. I really liked the concert. Giulia Oh yes, I saw how you were jumping! Hey, but where are the girls? Jack I don't know. Do they know where the exit is? Giulia They know where the exit is, but there are four! Jack Why don't you try to call them? Giulia Yes, let's hope they keep an eye on the mobile, with all this confusion, how can they hear it. Jack Wait, I see them! They're over there at the stalls. 2 Giulia Ah, yes. Let's go there.

Vocabulary Italian English Class invito invitation noun saltare to jump, spring verb uscita exit, way out noun provare to try, try on, try out verb confusione confusion, racket, mess noun bancarella stall, stand, booth, newsstand noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Sono contento che hai accettato l'invito. "I am happy that you accepted the invitation." Mi piace saltare sul letto. "I like jumping on the bed." Sto ancora cercando l'uscita. "I am still looking for the exit." Ho provato a fare quello che mi hai detto. "I tried to do what you said to me." Proviamo quel nuovo ristorante? "Shall we try that new restaurant?" Posso provare questi pantaloni? "Can I try on these pants?" Oggi a scuola c'è confusione. "Today at school there is confusion." Lo puoi comprare a quella bancarella. "You can buy it at that stall."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Subordinate Clauses That May be Followed by Verbs Conjugated in the Subjunctive Mood. Moreover, We Will See the Present Subjunctive Conjugation of the Irregular Verb tenere ("to hold," "to keep"). Speriamo che tengano d'occhio il cellulare, con tutta questa confusione come possono sentirlo. "Let's hope they keep an eye on the mobile, with all this confusion how can they hear it."

3 9th - We can use the subjunctive mood in order to achieve peculiar stylistic results when changing the order of elements in a sentence. Please note that this particular employment of the subjunctive mood is related to literary and formal varieties of Italian language.

For Example: Indicative Subjunctive "English" Noi sappiamo che loro sono Che loro siano simpatici, lo "We know they are fun." simpatici. (present sappiamo. (present indicative) subjunctive) Mi è stato detto che Serena Che Serena sia partita, mi è "I was told that Serena è partita. (passato prossimo stato detto. (past left." indicative) subjunctive) Ammettete che siete Che voi siate impazienti, lo "You admit you are

impazienti. (present ammettete. (present impatient." indicative) subjunctive)

10th - The negative form in the verb of the main clause may, in certain cases, change the verb's conjugation in the secondary clause from the indicative mood to the subjunctive. Grammatically speaking, this change is not necessary, though it occurs more often in formal speech.

For Example: Italian "English" Dico che la tua idea è molto "I say your idea is very interesting." interessante. (present indicative) Non dico che la tua idea sia "I do not say your idea is molto interessante. (present interesting." subjunctive) È che so come contattare "The thing is, I know how to contact Mike. (present indicative, very Mike." informal) Non è che sappia come "The thing is, I don't know how to contattare Mike. (present contact Mike." subjunctive) 4 Il tuo collega sa qual'è la "Your colleague knows the best soluzione migliore al solution to the problem." problema. (present indicative) Il tuo collega non sa quale sia "Your colleague doesn't know the la soluzione migliore al best solution to the problem." problema. (present subjunctive)

Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Tenere ("to hold," "to keep")

tenere ("to hold," "to keep")

Italian "English" che io tenga "I hold" che tu tenga "you hold" che lui/lei tenga "he/she/it holds" che noi teniamo "we hold" che voi teniate "you hold" che loro tengano "they hold"

Cultural Insight

Origini storiche delle Porte Palatine

The Porte Palatine ("Palatine Gates," in the dialect of Turin, Tor Romane) is a large building that comprises, apart from the gates, a wide range of arches and two massive sixteen-side defense towers. The gates, built at the end of the first century B.C., used to lead to the ancient Roman forum, the economic and political center of Augusta Taurinorum (Latin name of "Turin"). The impressive 5 remains of Porte Palatine are still visible today, in the middle of a piazza built after the fall of the Roman Empire, called Piazza Cesare Augusto, which also displays a bronze statue of the famous Roman leader.

The city authorities undertook an important renovation project on the Porte Palatine, building a Parco Archeologico ("Archeological Park") aimed at making the present Piazza Cesare Augusto a "historical garden" bounded by high walls and rows of trees. When the project is completed, this park should also display many ancient archeological remains of both the Porte Palatine and other recent Roman findings.

If you wish to have additional information regarding Turin's Parco Archeologico (Archeological Park), please visit the following website:

http://www.museoantichita.it/museo.htm

(The website is written in Italian only.)

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 I'm Jealous of What You Did Last Night in Italy!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 24 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 128 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Giulia Perchè non sei venuto al concerto? Mario Mi dispiace, ma ho avuto un impegno improvviso. Giulia Comunque è stato entusiasmante. Mario Davvero? Che invidia! Giulia Anche Jack dice che è stato sensazionale! Mario Spero che non sia esausto quel ragazzo. Giulia Mah, diceva che era completamente senza forze. Mario Perfetto. Proprio domani che trasmettiamo la partita al bar e ci saranno decine di tifosi scatenati...

English

Giulia Why didn't you come to the concert? Mario I'm sorry, but I had an unexpected appointment. Giulia Anyway, it was exciting. Mario Really? I'm so jealous! Giulia Even Jack says it was stunning! Mario I hope that guy is not exhausted. Giulia Well, he said he was completely worn out. Mario Perfect. Tomorrow, we are airing the match at the bar and there will be 2 tons of wild fans...

Vocabulary Italian English Class improvviso unexpected, sudden adjective entusiasmante exciting, fascinating adjective sensazionale stunning, sensational, striking adjective esausto exhausted, whacked, worn-out adjective completamente completely, totally, fully adverb trasmettere transmit, send, broadcast verb

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

È arrivato un temporale improvviso. "A sudden storm has come." Ho visto un film entusiasmante. "I saw an exciting movie." La nuova collezione di Armanni è sensazionale. "Armani's new collection is sensational." Dopo il lavoro sono sempre esausta. "After work, I'm always exhausted." Mi dispiace, mi sono completamente dimenticata il"I am sorry; I completely forgot your birthday." tuo compleanno. Alla radio stanno trasmettendo il meteo. "On the radio, they are broadcasting the weather news."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Tense Agreement Between the Main and Secondary Clauses. In Addition, We Will Study the Reference Boards of the First Group, Delving Into its Two Categories. Proprio domani che trasmettiamo la partita al bar e ci saranno decine di tifosi scatenati... "Tomorrow, we are airing the match at the bar and there will be tons of wild fans..."

The tense agreement between the main and secondary clauses depends on whether the action of the secondary clause takes place before, at the same time of, or after the action we express in the main 3 clause. The tense agreement exclusively describes the temporal connection between the main and secondary clauses according to what kind of correlation we wish to express.

Please note that although there are some similarities, the tense agreement does not translate literally into English. We strongly suggest you learn the Italian one without translating it into English, because you may find this procedure really misleading.

We have two main groups of tense agreement according to whether the verb of the main clause calls for the subjunctive mood. We can further subdivide each group into two categories, according to what tense the verb of the main clause is conjugated in.

In today's class, we will study the two categories of the first group.

First Group: Main Clauses Whose Verbs Do Not Call for the Subjunctive Mood

First category: Main clause ? Present tense Main Subordinate ClauseSecondary Clause's Clause: Temporal Connection With Present Main Clause Tense Mario dice tu sarai felice Posteriority, Futuro semplice che indicativo ("indicative simple future") tu sei felice Contemporaneity, Presente semplice indicativo ("indicative simple present") tu eri/sei stato felice Anteriority, Imperfetto/Passato Prossimo Indicativo ("Indicative Imperfect"/Passato Prossimo )

English equivalents Main Subordinate ClauseSecondary Clause's Clause: Temporal Connection With Present Main Clause Tense 4 "Mario says "you will be happy" Posteriority, Simple future that" "you are happy" Contemporaneity, Simple present "you were happy" Anteriority, Simple past

Second category: Main clause ? Past tense. Main Subordinate ClauseSecondary Clause's Clause: Past Temporal Connection With Tense Main Clause Mario tu saresti stato felice Posteriority, Condizionale diceva/ ha Passato ("past conditional") detto/ disse tu eri felice Contemporaneity, Imperfetto che indicativo (Mario diceva/ ha detto/ disse che) tu eri stato felice Anteriority, Trapassato

prossimo Indicativo ("Indicative pluperfect")

English equivalents Main Subordinate ClauseSecondary Clause's Clause: Temporal Connection With Present Main Clause Tense "Mario said "you would be Posteriority, Present that" happy" conditional "you were happy" Contemporaneity, Simple past "you had been Anteriority, Past perfect happy"

Cultural Insight

Porta Palazzo 5 It is not widely known that Porta Palazzo ("Palace Gate"), alternatively called Pòrta Pila (in the dialect of Turin), hosts the largest open market in Europe. There are two different possible origins of the name. According to some, the name originates from a former entrance gate of Turin, Postierla San Michele, which used to lead directly to Porta Palazzo. The second hypothesis would even trace its historical origins back to the ancient Romans, who used to call the gate Porta Principalis Sinistra (otherwise called Palatina).

Significantly, the development of the gate and its surrounding areas mirror that of the city itself, reflecting in particular the main changes the different political authorities that ruled the city decided to make in order to leave a historical sign of their powerful influence. Although the full story of this development is too long to be recounted here, it will suffice to say that nowadays visitors can enjoy the cultural traces of Roman, Italian, French, and even Spanish art spread across nothing less than two millennia.

It is worth noticing that at the present time, the Porta Palazzo's open market is also a stunning multicultural environment, in which sellers from literally all around the world come to trade their

goods, thus creating a peculiar Medieval-fair atmosphere.

If you wish to take a bird's eye look at this traditional folk open market, please follow the link provided below:

http://www.lfar.it/content/data/upimages/TO1.jpg

Lower Intermediate Lesson S2 It's Time for You to Get Down to Business With Italian!

Formal Italian 2 English 2 25 Vocabulary 2 Grammar Points 3 Cultural Insight 5 134 ItalianPod101.com Learn Italian with FREE Podcasts

Formal Italian

Mario Hey Giulia! Pensi che sia meglio aggiungere delle sedie? Giulia No, non credo sia la soluzione giusta. In piedi possono entrare più clienti. Mario Eh sì, hai ragione. Hai visto Jack come si sta dando da fare? Giulia Davvero, noi pensavamo oggi non potesse lavorare e invece è molto attivo. Silvia Allora Mario quel ragazzo straniero lavora qui? Mario Certo, chi credevi che fosse? Silvia Pensavo che fosse il fidanzato di tua sorella... Giulia Come?

English

Mario Hey, Giulia! Do you think it's better to add some chairs? Giulia No, I don't think that's the right solution. By standing, more customers can come in. Mario Oh yes, you're right. Have you seen how Jack is working hard? Giulia That's true, we thought he couldn't work today, instead he is very active. Silvia So Mario, does that foreign guy work here? Mario Sure. Who did you think he was? 2 Silvia I thought he was your sister's boyfriend... Giulia What?

Vocabulary Italian English Class aggiungere to add verb sedia chair noun soluzione solution, result, answer noun attivo active, productive adjective straniero foreign adjective fidanzato boyfriend, fiancé noun

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Aggiungi dei posti a tavola. "Add some seats at the table." Aggiungi un pò di sale. "Add a bit of salt." Questa sedia è rotta. "This chair is broken." Manca una sedia. "We're missing a chair." Non c'è soluzione. "There is no solution." Quel ragazzo è molto attivo. "That guy is very active." Mi piace studiare le lingue straniere. "I like studying foreign languages." Al momento non ho un fidanzato. "At the moment, I don't have a boyfriend."

Grammar Points

The Focus of This Lesson Is Tense Agreement Between the Main and Secondary Clause. In Addition, We Will Study the Reference Boards of the Second Group, Delving Into its Two Categories. Davvero, noi pensavamo oggi non potesse lavorare e invece è molto attivo. "That's true, we thought he couldn't work today, instead he is very active."

In today's class, we will study the two categories of the second group. 3 First Group: Main Clauses Whose Verbs Call for the Subjunctive Mood 1st category: Main clause ? Present tense Main Clause: Subordinate Secondary Clause's Present Tense Clause Temporal Connection with Main Clause Loro pensano che io sarò triste Posteriority, Futuro semplice indicativo ("indicative simple future") io sia felice Contemporaneity, Congiuntivo Presente ("present subjunctive") io sia stato felice Anteriority,

Congiuntivo Passato ("past subjunctive")

English equivalents Main Clause: Subordinate Secondary Clause's Present Tense Clause Temporal Connection with Main Clause "they think" "I will be sad" Posteriority, "simple future" "I am sad" Contemporaneity, "simple present" "I was sad" Anteriority, "simple past"

2nd category: Main clause ? Past tense. Main Clause: Past Subordinate Secondary Clause's Tense Clause Temporal Connection with 4 Main Clause Loro pensavano/ tu saresti stato Posteriority, hanno pensato/ felice Condizionale Passato pensarono che ("past conditional") tu fossi felice Contemporaneity, Congiuntivo imperfetto ("imperfect subjunctive") tu fossi stato felice Anteriority, Congiuntivo trapassato ("pluperfect subjunctive")

English equivalents Main Clause: Subordinate Secondary Clause's Present Tense Clause Temporal Connection with Main Clause "They thought that" "you would be Posteriority, "Present happy" conditional" "you were happy" Contemporaneity, "Simple past" "you had been Anteriority, "Past happy" perfect"

Cultural Insight

5 Parco della Pellerina The parco della Pellerina ("the park of Pellerina") is Turin's largest park, spreading over more than 837 square miles. It's located in the western area of Turin, precisely between Corso Regina Margherita and Corso Appio Claudio, in the Parella neighborhood.

The construction of the park began in 1930, but, due to many long vicissitudes, it was only completed in 1980. It was officially dedicated to the memory of Mario Carrara (1866-1937), a late anthropology professor. He was one of the fourteen professors (out of more than 1200) who refused to take the Giuramento di Fedeltà del Fascismo (Fascism Oath of Loyalty).

The Dora Riparia river crosses the park; its embankments have been repeatedly enlarged in order to straighten the course of the river. The park is among Turin's most popular; the inhabitants of the city love taking long strolls. The park also features popular sport facilities.

The name may come from the local term, Pellerina, that Italians used to define the buildings where

they held insolvent debtors. They were exposed to the public completely naked in order to emphasize their economic condition.

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